& *:*?&
-.
am
5*V?^i
,,!*
''.$?
W
.>>
University of California Berkeley
SIDNEY HOWARD COLLECTION
Gift of
The Family of Sidney Howard
x
fliblishzd by J^Lfferne at ffutSible, Crcwn
REMINISCENCES
OF
MICHAEL KELLY,
OF THE
KING'S THEATRE,
AND
THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE,
INCLUDING
A PERIOD OF NEARLY HALF A CENTURY ;
WITH
ORIGINAL ANECDOTES
OF
MANY DISTINGUISHED PERSONS,
POLITICAL, LITERARY, AND MUSICAL.
SECOND EDITION.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
1826.
LONDON :
PRINTED BY T. BRETTEIL, RL'PtRT STREET, HAYMARKET.
CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME.
FIRST performance of the " Siege of Belgrade." Italian
Opera at the Pantheon. The Abbe Casti's opera, the
" Grotta di Trofonio," with Salieri's music. Last
night at old Drury Lane, previous to its being rebuilt.
Little Theatre in the Haymarket. Mrs. Jordan at
York. Musical performances at the Minster. Awful
accompaniment to the inspired music of Handel. The
Author's introduction to Elliston. Musical festival at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Tate Wilkinson confused be-
tween cookery and theatricals. . . . Page 1 10
The Author's mistake in taking Sir Charles Turner for
Hobler, the chorus-singer. The Drury Lane company
at the King's Theatre. Kemble, Madame Mara,
Mrs. Siddons, and Mrs. Jordan. Mr. Sheridan's
dinner at the Piazza Coffee House. Successful
revival of " Cymon." Kean's first appearance on the
stage as Cupid. Destruction of the Pantheon Theatre
by fire. Mr. Sheridan and the Irish fireman. Duke
of Bedford Page 1021
IV CONTENTS.
The Author at Paris. Escape of the King and Queen
of France. Invectives of Tom Paine and Governor
Wall. Their Majesties enter the Thuilleries as pri-
soners. Dignified deportment of the Queen. The
Author and Dick England assume the national cock-
ade, for the purpose of getting safely out of France.
Narrow escape of the gambling Quaker. Provincial
musical festivals. The musical romance, called " The
Prisoner." First performance of " The Pirates." The
theatre closed by Mr. Kemble, on the 24th of January,
1793, from respect to the memory of Louis XVI.
Page 2133
Paesiello's comic opera, the " Zingari in Fiera," at the
King's Theatre. Noverre's ballets. Didelot, Gardel,
D'Egville, and Hillisberg. Noverre's irritability.
First performance of " The Prize," for Storace's
benefit. O'Keefe's " London Hermit." School of
Garrick. Anecdotes of old Moody, and his confession.
Mathews in disguise. The Author arrested for a debt
of Mr. Sheridan's. Proofs of the latter's dexterity in
financial contrivances. Anecdotes of King, the come-
dian Page 33 50
The " Beggar's Opera" prohibited in Dublin. The
Author reads, with great pleasure, a panegyrical elegy
upon himself, and an account of his death, in a news-
paper at Manchester. Appalling spectacle at the Little
Theatre in the Haymarjcet. Opening of the new
CONTENTS. V
Drury Lane Theatre, in 1794, with an oratorio.
Kean's mischievous tricks, as one of the urchin-spirits
in " Macbeth." The whole tribe of boys (including
Kean) dismissed by Mr. Kemble. Lodoiska at Paris
and Drury Lane. Mrs. Crouch's danger in that spec-
tacle. The Author's wine-bills. . . Page 50 64
Edinburgh. New way of emulating Garrick. The late
Mr. Perry of the Chronicle. The Corris, Urbani,
Stabilini, and Cecchi. Quarrel between Tate Wilkinson
and his wife. Mr. Macready, of the Birmingham
Theatre. Petits soupers at the house of Mrs. Ro-
binson, the beautiful Perdita. Anecdotes of Baddely.
His death, and legacy to the Performers of Drury
Lane. Storace's opera of " The Cherokee." Haydn's
and Pleyel's opinion of Mrs. Bland. Miss Wilson in
Mandane. Madame Mara's great praise of Miss
Povey of Drury Lane. Mara's failure in her concert,
in her seventy-second year. . . . Page 64 73
First performance of the " Wheel of Fortune." Kemble
and Suett. Miss Mellon's first appearance. Death
of Parsons. The " Iron Chest." Stephen Storace's
death. Braham's introduction to the stage at Drury
Lane. Banti. Duke of Queensberry's hospitality
to the French nobility. Anecdotes of his Grace.
Viotti and his revolutionary companions. Affecting
story and tragical end of the Duke D'Aiguillon.
Bensley, the actor. Elliston's debut in London.
AS
VI CONTENTS.
Death of Dodd. Anacreontic Society at the Crown
and Anchor. r . Page 73 90
The Author apprehended as a French spy at Dover.
Colonel North. Eccentric Earl of Howth. John
Kemble turning methodist preacher to " raise the
wind." Lord Howth's receipt to cure a sore throat.
Dr. Jenner's Bacchanalian song. The Author's in-
troduction to Mr. Coutts. Audience with His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, at the Pavilion,
Brighton. Specimen of French honesty in the prison
at Plymouth. Lord Cork and Sir Charles Bampfylde.
Page 90103
Fracas at Plymouth Dock. The Author and Mrs.
Crouch engaged by Miss Foote's father at the Ply-
mouth Theatre. Rauzzini's private musical parties
at Bath. Anecdotes of that musician. Introduction
to Jackson of Exeter. French dancer in a barn at
Penzance. Emery, the late comedian, leading the
band at Plymouth. Dowton's debut on the London
stage. Mr. Sheridan's opinion of that actor. Musical
taste of Mrs. Sheridan. Affecting anecdote of Miss
Maria Linley. Grief of Mr. Sheridan at the death of
his wife. Prince Hoare's musical interlude. Miss
Farren. Bannister and the Author visit Mr. Cum-
berland, at Tunbridge Wells. The Duchess of
Leinster calumniated by her servants. Anecdotes of
the irritability of Cumberland. Origin of Sheridan's
CONTENTS. Vll
" Sir Fretful Plagiary." A new dish. First night of the
" Castle Spectre." Page 103126
Anecdotes of Monk Lewis. His death attributed to
poison. Ballad, composed at the express command of
his present Majesty. First Performance of " Blue
Beard," at Drury Lane. The Author's music. Kean,
as the little Blue Beard. Death of John Palmer.
Mr. Kemble, as the Monk. Death of the veteran
Cramer. Extraordinary anecdote respecting the first
performance of " Pizarro." Kemble's heroism in
defence of Miss Phillips, afterwards Mrs. Crouch.
" Of Age To-Morrow." Miss De Camp, and " No,
my Love, no." Page 126 151
Mazzanti, the Italian soprano, at the performance of the
" Beggar's Opera Travestied." Madame Bolla.
Attempt on the life of George the Third, in Drury
Lane Theatre. Miss Baillie's " De Montfort."
Revival of Shakspeare's " King John." Charles Fox
and Mrs. Siddons prophesy the future celebrity of
Miss Kelly. " Deaf .and Dumb." Introduction to
Thomas Moore, the poet. His afterpiece, " The
Gipsey Prince." The Author opens a music-shop in
Pall Mall. " Urania." The Honourable William
Spencer. Mrs. Billington's return to England. Her
performance at both Theatres, in " Mandane."
Page 1-51168
Vlll CONTEXTS.
Mrs. Billington's dismay at the unexpected appearance
of Monsieur de Felican, her husband. Sheridan's
theatrical embarrassments. The Lord Chancellor.
Paris, in 1802. Buonaparte reviewing his troops.
Talma, in Orestes. Different receptions of Charles
Fox and Buonaparte, at the Theatre Francois. First
Consul's grand levee at the Thuilleries. Buonaparte's
rudeness to Lord Guilford, and munificence to
Paesiello. Theatre Feydeau. Origin of " Love
laughs at Locksmiths." Ellivien's judgment of the
English singers. The celebrated Winter engaged
as composer for the King's Theatre. Revival of
" Midas," at Drury Lane. Rousseau, the composer
of the air, " Pray, Goody." . . Page 168 182
Difficulty of eating on the stage. Mathews's first
appearance in London at the Haymarket. Miss
Duncan and Mrs. Billington in the opera of Arta-
xerxes. English Bank Notes in Scotland. Mrs. Scott
Waring. First acquaintance with Listen at Newcastle.
His debut in London. Mrs. Billington as prima
donna at the Opera. Winter's Calypso. Cinderella at
Drury Lane. The Author and the Commissioners
of Income Tax. Home Tooke. The musical after-
piece of " The Caravan." Dignum and the dog.
Page 182192
The King's Theatre opened by Mr. Francis Goold.
3
CONTENTS. IX
Grassini in " La Virgine del Sole." Origin of the
grand chorus in that opera. Winter's chef-d'oeuvre,
" II Ratto di Proserpina." The Author's ruse de
guerre with Madame Grassini. Mrs. St. Leger, in
" Aggression." Irish support at the Theatre on
the first night of the " Hunter of the Alps." Col-
man's " Gay Deceivers." Illness of Mrs. Crouch.
Page 192202
Tobin's " Honey Moon." Anecdotes of that Author.
Sheridan's foibles imitated by Richardson, one of the
proprietors of Drury Lane Theatre. Origin of
Colman's farce, " We Fly by Night." " Youth, Love,
and Folly." Mrs. Billington, Viganoni, and Braham,
in Winter's " L* Amore Fraterno." The grand ballet
of " Achilles." Grassini's fine tragic acting in the
" Orazj." Riot at the Opera House. Death of Mrs.
Crouch at Brighton Page 202210
Miss De Camp in the " Forty Thieves." First night
of " Adrian and Orrila" at Covent Garden. Cooke
intoxicated. Dispute between Kemble and Harris.
Anecdotes of Cooke. Naldi. Madame Catalani's
debut in " La Semiramide." Siboni. Parisot. Mr.
Sheridan corrects the printing of the " Duenna,"
thirty-two years after its publication ! Other instances
of his negligence. Writes articles against himself in
Woodfall's paper. Neglects his appointment with
the Prince. His promise to their late Majesties.
X CONTENTS.
His dinner to the Prince of Wales. Sunday cheese-
hunting Page 210 229
Madame Catalani dancing in a kitchen at Bangor, to the
music of an old blind harper. T. Cooke's musical
dexterity. Dinner at Mr. Curran's. Irish anecdotes.
Cumberland's " Jew of Mogadore." The Board of
Management. Miss Pope and Madame Storace leave
the stage. Death of the latter. Superstition of Mr.
Sheridan. His son Tom. Literary parties at the
Author's house. Italian opera at Dublin. The
eccentric O'Reilly. Logier, the musician. Irish
hunting Page 229248
Covent Garden Theatre burnt to the ground. The Duke
of Northumberland's munificence to Mr. Kemble.
Drury Lane Theatre destroyed by fire. Mr. She-
ridan's conduct on that occasion. The Duke of
Norfolk's owls. Tom Sheridan and his father.
Plaintive ballad by the latter. Lord Eardley. Ama-
teur Theatricals at Wroxton Abbey. Song by Mr.
Maddocks. Anecdote of the late Lady Hamilton.
Page 248269
The Author's last appearance on the stage. His bank-
ruptcy. Mrs. Siddons's farewell to the stage. Open-
ing of new Drury Lane Theatre. The Committee.
Masonic Festival. Coleridge's " Remorse." Sequel
to the " Beggar's Opera." Billy-in-the-Bowl, and the
CONTENTS. XI
Welch girl. The Author's danger on the beach at
Bangor. " Megin ho," in die ferry before Conway
Castle. Invitation to Lord Kirkwall's. The Author's
reception at Wroxton by Lord Guilford.
Page 269282
Kean's first appearance as a tragedian in " Shylock."
Unprecedented success of his " Richard." Lord
Byron's and Mr. Sheridan's opinion of that actor.
Kean's generosity to a poor brother-performer at
Brighton. Journey with Bannister to Paris. The
Author and the musical coachman. Recollections of
Sterne at Montreuil. Abbeville. French ballad-
singing Page 282 290
Arrival at Paris. The elder Vestris, Joly, Madame Bel-
mont, Brunet, and Potier. Bannister introduced to
Denon. Curran's opinion of Paris. Grassini and Pae'r.
Water-works of Marly. Anecdotes of Buonaparte.
Parisian lady's opinion of London. Rouen. The
peasants of Normandy. Brighton. Mathews and the
Nabob. The Author introduces Harley to the London
stage. Splendid performance of " Macbeth" at Drury
Lane. Miss O'Neill's first appearance in London.
Anecdotes of that lady. Miss Mellon's farewell to
the stage, in 1815. Mrs. Mountain's retirement from
public life. Bannister's last appearance. Anecdotes
of that excellent comedian and his friend Wroughton.
Miss Kelly shot at from the Pit of Drury Lane
Ill CONTENTS.
Theatre. Mrs. Siddons's re-appearance on the
stage Page 290 305
Death of Sheridan. His funeral. Refutation of the
reports that Mr. Sheridan was left destitute in his
latter moments. Sketch of the character of that
great man, and numerous hitherto unpublished Anec-
dotes concerning him Page 305 323
List of sixty-two dramatic Pieces, for which Kelly com-
posed the Music. Commutation of his claim upon
Drury Lane Theatre. Mr. Elliston's honourable
fulfilment of the contract of his predecessors with
Kelly. Alacrity of the Performers of both Houses,
in appearing for the Author's annual Benefit, at the
King's Theatre. Gracious and munificent Patronage
of the Author by King George the Fourth. His
Majesty's condescension and affability to poor little
Julia. " God save the King." . Page 323 333
APPENDIX, containing a history of the King's Theatre,
or Italian Opera House, from its first establishment
to the present time Page 335 367
REMINISCENCES
OF
MICHAEL KELLY,
ON January the 1st, 1791, was produced at
Drury Lane, the opera of " The Siege of
Belgrade." The drama was written by Cobb,
the music by Storace. The under-plot of this
opera was taken from the Italian piece of " La
Cosa Kara," which had been originally taken
from a Spanish drama. There was a good deal
of beautiful original music in it, by Storace,
who, with his great taste and knowledge of
effect, had also selected some from Martini. The
opera was received with great applause, and
was performed the first season sixty nights to
overflowing houses. The acting of Mrs. Crouch,
in the "Letter Duet," with the Seraskier, was
VOL. II. B
2 REMINISCENCES OF
beyond all praise, and Palmer's bye-play was
excellent. One night, during the performance,
an accident occurred which gave me great uneasi-
ness : in the battle scene, between Palmer and
myself, when fighting with scimetars, he left his
head totally unguarded, and received so severe a
blow in the forehead, that the blood spouted
all over the stage; luckily, the wound was not
sufficiently serious to confine him, although he was
obliged to wear a black patch on his forehead for a
length of time. In justice to poor Palmer, I must
say he bore his misfortune with the greatest good
humour.
On the 17th of February, the Italian Opera
company removed to the Pantheon in Oxford
Street, which was converted into a theatre. I
went the first night: the house was very small,
and the stage particularly so; but the company
was extremely good. For the serious opera, the
celebrated Pachierotti, who is just dead, was
engaged as first soprano ; the tenor, Lazzerini ;
the prima donna, Madame Mara. " L' Ararida,"
was the serious opera. For the comic opera,
they had Signors Cipriani, Morelli, Leperini,
and Signora Cassentini, who afterwards married
Signor Bergi, then stage manager for the
Committee, which consisted of the Duke of
Bedford, Lord Salisbury, and Mr. William
Sheldon.
MICHAEL KELLF. 3
This season, the Abbe Casti's " Grotta di
Trofonio 11 was translated, or rather adapted for
the English stage, under the title of " The Cave of
Trophonius," by Prince Hoare, and liberally given
by the author to Mrs. Crouch for her benefit.
Storace furnished the music, chiefly selected from
the original composer, Salieri ; but, though skil-
fully dramatized, and the whole strength of the
Drury operatic company in it, it did not meet with
the reception which I think it deserved.
On the 4th of June, the Old Drury Lane
closed for ever, with the comedy of " The Coun-
try Girl, 11 and "No Song, no Supper/ 1 At the
end of the play, Palmer came forward, and
thus addressed the audience: " Ladies and
Gentlemen, on the part of the proprietors,
manager, and performers, I have to express their
gratitude for the unprecedented support with
which you have favoured them during the past
season ; when next we have the honour to appear
before you on this spot, we trust it , will be in
a theatre better calculated for your accommodation,
more deserving Royal countenance, and the pa-
tronage of this great metropolis."
There seemed to me so much whimsicality in
the following newspaper paragraph, which I took
a copy of at the time, that I think it will not
4 REMINISCENCES OF
be unacceptable to my readers : the date is
June 6th, 1791 :
" Died, on Saturday night, of a gradual
decay, in the hundred and seventeenth year
of her age, old Madame Drury, who lived in
six reigns, and saw many generations pass in
review before her. She remembered Betterton in
age, lived in intimacy with Wilks, Booth, and
Gibber, and knew old Macklin when he was a
stripling; her hospitality exceeded that of the
English character, even in its earliest days of fes-
tivity, having almost through the whole of her
life entertained from one to two thousand per-
sons of both sexes six nights out of seven in
the week ; she was an excellent poetess, could be
gay and grave by turns, and yet sometimes
catching disorder from intrusive guests, could be
dull enough in all conscience ; her memory was
excellent, and her singing kept in such a gradual
state of improvement, that it was allowed, her
voice was better the three or four last years of
her life than when she was in her prime. At
the latter end of the last century, she had a rout
of near two thousand people at her house the very
night of her death; and the old lady felt herself
in such spirits, that she said she would give them
no supper without a song, which being complied
with, she fell gently back in her chair, and expired
MICHAEL KELLr. 5
without a groan. Dr. Palmer, one of her family
physicians, attended her in her last moments, and
announced her dissolution to the company."
The little theatre in the Haymarket opened
on June 25th, and brought out u The Kentish
Barons,"" a play in three acts, interspersed with
music; the drama by the Honourable Francis
North, second son of Lord North, the prime
minister ; the airs were composed by Miss Monk,
a dilettante, and very dilettante-like music it was.
The language was bold and poetical, and written
in elegant blank verse ; but, owing to the infe-
riority of the music, it did not meet with unequi-
vocal success. On the first night, I went behind
the scenes, and was introduced to its witty author,
who honoured me with the most marked friendship
and regard during the remainder of his life. I
was so much pleased with the poetry of one of the
songs, that I requested a copy of it from the noble
author, to which I composed the music, and often
sang it to him and the kind, good Countess of
Guilford, both now no more.
SONG. Written by Francis, Earl of Guilford.
I.
No, Clifford, no, for six long years
I felt a lover's hopes and fears;
The raging frenzy now is past,
Peace dawns upon my heart at last.
D REMINISCENCES OF
II.
Think not that I'd inconstant prove r
Where once I vow'd eternal love ;
My heart had still felt all its flame,
Had beauteous Laura felt the same.
HI.
Doom'd absence-lingering pangs to try,
I felt a transport in each sigh ;
My lot was happy, though severe,
And pleasure mingled in each tear.
IV.
In vain I tried each honest art
To fix her foolish fickle heart ;
But since she's gone, e'en let her go ;
I'll sigh no more, no, Clifford, no.
Mrs. Crouch, Madame Mara, and Mr. Har-
rison, were engaged with me in the August of this
year, for the second summer assize week at York
cathedral: we arrived there the 8th of August,
and went to the theatre, to see Mrs. Jordan
in the " Trip to Scarborough, 11 and " The Devil
to Pay ;" and, the devil to pay there was with
poor Wilkinson : Mrs. Jordan and he could not
agree ; she thought herself slighted by the audi-
ence; and, sans ceremonie, before she had gone
through half her nights, quitted York, leaving
Tate's fair side all unguarded. Mr. and Mrs,
MICHAEL KELLY. 7
John Kemble were on a visit to their old friend,
Mr. Wilson, then Lord Mayor of York, with whom
I dined twice, when Kemble and Tate were of the
party. The city of York was crammed with
visitors to attend the festival. The performances
at the Minster for three mornings, gave universal
satisfaction to crowded audiences : Madame Mara,
Mrs. Crouch, and Harrison were in fine song. The
performances were, the " Messiah," and two grand
selections from the most approved works of Handel.
There were concerts given in the evenings, at the
great assembly rooms.
One of the most awful accompaniments to the
inspired music of Handel, was furnished by the
hand of Nature.
On Monday night, the 15th of August, 1791,
during the grand chorus, "He gave them hail-
stones for rain," a storm, almost unparalleled
in the memory of man, burst in all its violence
over the rooms ; the flashes of lightning, and the
loud peals of thunder, were magnificently awful.
The great room, almost crowded to suffocation,
being surrounded with windows, which were opened
to admit what little air there was, appeared full of
blue flame : never before or since did I behold such
a tremendous night,-i-such bursts of Heaven's
artillery, and such sheets of fire, combined with the
8 REMINISCENCES OF
sacred words and the majestic music of the mighty
master, were altogether appalling and magnificent.
It was during our stay this time at York, that
Mrs. Crouch and I had the pleasure of first seeing
my worthy friend Elliston : he played Carlos with
great judgment and feeling, considering his youth,
and considering moreover that Kemble was the
Zanga. He was particularly impressive in the
speech of
" Hope, thou hast told me lies from day to day,
For more than twenty years."
I remember Mrs. Crouch said to me, " Depend
upon it that young man will be an excellent actor ;"
and her prophecy has been amply fulfilled.
From York we were engaged to go to Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, for a grand musical festival, which was
fixed for the week following the assize week ; we
had in the interim a few days to spare, and Wil-
kinson engaged Mrs. Crouch and myself to play at
the theatre on the Monday and Tuesday in the
race week, August the 25th and 26th, which
allowed us full time to get to the Newcastle
Oratorio. Tate called upon us, and we agreed to
perform " Lionel and Clarissa," " Inkle and
Yarico," and Henry and Louisa in the " Deserter/'
which we did to crowded houses. We were to>
MICHAEL KELLY.
return from Newcastle to York, and take our
benefit on the Thursday after the races. I cannot
conscientiously say, that my worthy Tate had any
opinion whatever of my musical abilities, but he
took it into his head that my skill in the culinary
art was great. He used to call me the Harmonious
Apicius ; indeed, we hardly ever discussed any sub-
jects but those of cooking and eating ; he had a small
appetite, but was a great epicure. At one time,
when I was making an agreement with him, I
wanted twenty guineas more than he was willing to
give ; at length he said, " Well, young Apicius,
twenty guineas shall not part us ; you shall have it
your own way ; but, confess now, honestly, didn't
you think the ducks were over-roasted yesterday at
my Lord Mayor's. 1 "
Wilkinson was certainly one of the most eccen-
tric men I ever met with ; one of his whims wa?,
to hide chocolate drops and other sweetmeats in
different holes and corners of his house, his great
pleasure consisting in finding them, as if by acci-
dent, some days after. When he had taken a few
glasses of old Madeira, of which he was very fond,
he would mix his conversation about theatricals
and eatables together, in a manner at once ludicrous
and incomprehensible. I was sitting with him one
night, in high spirits, after supper, and we spoke
of Barry, the actor : " Sir, 1 ' said he, " Barry, Sir,
B 5
10 REMINISCENCES OF
was as much superior to Garrick in Romeo, as
York Minster is to a Methodist chapel, not but I
think, that if lobster sauce is not well made, a
turbot isn't eatable, let it be ever so firm. Then
there's that Miss Reynolds ; why she, Sir, fancies
herself a singer, but she is quite a squalini, Sir ! a
nuisance, Sir ! going about my house the whole of
the day, roaring out, " The Soldier tired of War's
alarms," ah ! she has tired me, and alarmed the
whole neighbourhood ; not but when rabbits are
young and tender, they are very nice eating. There
was Mrs. Barry, for example; Mrs. Barry was
very fine and very majestic in Zenobia ; Barry, in
the same play, was very good ; not but that the
wild rabbits are better than tame ones. Though
Mrs. Barry was so great in her day, yet Mrs.
Siddons stewed and smothered with onions, either
of them are delicious. Mrs. Pope was admirable in
Queen Elizabeth a man I had here, made a very
good Oronooko ; not but I would always advise
you to have a calf s head dressed with the skin on,
but you must always bespeak it of the butcher
yourself ; though the last bespeak of Lord Scarbo-
rough did nothing for me, nothing at all ; the house
was one of the worst of the whole season ; with
bacon and greens, -not twenty pounds altogether,
with parsley and butter ;" and on he went talking,
until he talked himself asleep, for which I did offer
MICHAEL KELLY. 11
my thanks to Somnus, with all my soul ; yet when
clear of these unaccountable reveries, he was an
amusing companion.
I have heard my friend King assert, that
such was the power of Wilkinson's mimicry, that
ugly as he was, he could make his face resemble
that of Mrs. Woffington, who was a beauty of
her time. I once requested him to make Mrs.
Woffington's face for me, which he good-naturedly
did, and to my utter astonishment, really made
a handsome one. He was very fond of talking of
his Peg, as he called Mrs. Woffington, and avowed
that, in his younger days, he was passionately in love
with her.
Tate Wilkinson was not singular in mixing with
whatever subject he was talking about, that of
eating. I knew a countryman of mine, a captain in
the Irish brigade, whose constant habit was always
to bring in something or other about eatables. A
gentleman praising the Bay of Dublin, and its simi-
litude to the Bay of Naples, " Dublin Bay, Sir,"
said my countryman, " is far and away finer than
the Bay of Naples ; for what on earth can be supe-
rior to a Dublin Bay herring ?"
" I am told,"" said the gentleman, " that the Irish
brigade, in the Empress Maria Theresa's service,
are a fine set of men. 1 *
" You may say that, Sir," said my friend, " and
1 REMINISCENCES OF
she has also in her dominions the finest beef and
mutton I ever tasted any where."
One winter there was a severe frost in Dublin,
and such a scarcity of coals, thai hardly any were
to be got for love or money ; a gentleman was
lamenting the situation of the poorer orders from
the severity of the weather.
" It's very true, they are much to be pitied,
poor devils," said the captain ; " and the cold is
very shocking, but it will bring in the curlews."
There is an evident similarity in the turn of the
Irish captain's mind to that of Tate Wilkinson.
Our time for departure, however, arrived; and
Mrs. Crouch, her maid, and I, left York at five
o'clock in the morning for Newcastle, and got to
Durham to a late dinner : while it was preparing,
I amused myself by looking about me, and in the
hall of the inn I saw a large bill posted, announcing
the performances of the Newcastle festival ; reading
which, with great attention, I perceived a man,
whom I recognised as Mr. Hobler, the chorus
singer, who sang at the Abbey, the King's Concert,
and the Academy of Ancient Music. The bill
announced an uncommon number of choruses, and
I remarked upon the fact to the chorister. " Why,"
said I, familiarly, concluding, that as I knew Hobler,
Hobler must know me, u You will have warm
work, my master, with all these choruses."
MICHAEL KELLY. 13
" Not I," said the singer; " the more choruses
there are, the better I am pleased ; I never tire of
them."
" Why," said I, " that is strange, too, consi-
dering how much you have had of them in your
time/ 1
" Not at all, I assure you," said Hobler ; " I
have for many years regularly attended the ancient
concerts and music meetings, I have never had
too much of Handel's choruses yet."
" Egad," said I, " you are quite afanatico per
la musica. And pray, now, to which of Handel's
choruses do you give the preference ?"
" Why, my dear Mr. Kelly," said Hobler, I
cannot decide ; but I candidly tell you what Cicero
said, when he was asked which of the orations of
Demosthenes he liked the best, he answered the
longest ; so say I of Handel's choruses."
" Bravo," said I ; " you are quite a learned
Theban."
" Not much of that either," said he ; " but I
am never disinclined to avow an opinion of what
pleases me."
Just at this moment, the waiter came to announce
dinner, and I asked the enthusiastic chorister if he
would take a glass of any thing."
" No, thank you," said he, " I have had my
wine and my tea ; I am an earlier man than you."
" Pray," said I, " how did you travel here ?"
REMINISCENCES OF
" I came down in my carriage," replied Hobler.
" The devil you did," cried I.
" Yes," said he ; "I always do."
The landlord of the inn at this juncture made
his appearance, and bowing respectfully to Hobler,
told him that his carriage was at the door. " Good
day, Mr. Kelly," said Hobler ; " I hope we shall
meet at Newcastle ;" and away he went.
While we were at dinner, the landlord came into
the room, and I asked him if the chorus singer to
whom I had been speaking in the hall was an old
customer of his.
" What, Sir, the gentleman you were speaking
to ?" said the landlord, " he is no chorus singer,
Sir ; he is one of the oldest baronets in England,
and has one of the finest places in Yorkshire ; nor
is there a more noble or liberal gentleman on the
face of the earth than Sir Charles."
" Sir Charles," exclaimed I ; " What, is Hobler
turned baronet ?"
" Hobler ?" said my host, " why that, Sir, is
Sir Charles Turner."
It is impossible to describe how vexed I felt at
the gross mistake I had made, but it was too late to
remedy it. I solemnly assured the landlord that
Sir Charles Turner and Hobler the chorus singer
were so like one another, that they were undis-
tinguishable apart.
Sometime after this unpleasant equivoque, I met
MICHAEL KELLY. 15
Sir Charles at Lord Dudley's, and made him every
apology in my power. The worthy baronet laughed
heartily, and told me that he mentioned the circum-
stance wherever he had an opportunity, as a capital
joke. The next Christmas he sent me a fine large
Yorkshire pye. His son, who succeeded to his
title and estates, continued my friend, to the day of
his death ; and many times and oft, when I have
dined with him, or met him at Lord Mexborough's
and elsewhere, have we talked of my having taken
his father for a chorus singer.
The Newcastle festival was very productive, and
the oratorios in the church in the morning (three),
and three concerts, were attended by all the people
of Newcastle and its vicinity. We went to see all
that was curious, and were received with much
hospitality. We returned to York, on Wednesday,
the 1st of September, and had for our benefit, " The
Haunted Tower,"" and " Richard Cceur de Lion.""
The house overflowed. The next day I dined with
my friend Tate, who gave me a calf 's head, with the
skin on it, admirably cooked by Mrs. Wilkinson ;
and the day after, we set off for London.
The King's Theatre being now finished, the
Drury Lane company were transplanted there,
pro tempore, until Drury Lane was ready for their
reception. On the 22nd of September it opened,
under John Kemble's management, with a prelude
16 REMINISCENCES OF
written by Cobb, for the occasion, called " Poor Old
Drury," u The Haunted Tower," and " The
Pannel;" the prices were raised, the boxes to six
shillings, and the pit to three and sixpence. The
doors were not opened at the hour announced in
the bills of the day ; the crowd was immense, and
when they entered the house, they could not find
their way to the different places; all was hurry,
bustle, and confusion. The prelude began with
Palmer and Parsons, who attempted to address the
infuriated audience in vain; they were obliged to
retire; the manager was called for, and Kemble
came forward ; a paper was given to him from the
pit, stating, that the cause of their disapprobation
was the delay in opening the doors, and the great
inconvenience of the passages. Kemble stood the
fire well, and assured them, those inconveniences
should be remedied on the next evening's per-
formances.
The storm then ceased; the handing up the
paper (which was done by a friend of the manage-
ment) was a lucky ruse, anil did great credit to the
projector, General John Kemble himself. The
prelude contained some comic points, alluding to
the size of the Opera House, compared with Old
Drury, and some beautiful scenery, particularly
Mount Parnassus, by Marinari.
" The Haunted Tower" followed: I had to
MICHAEL KELLY. 17
sing the first song. I was in good voice, and it
filled the theatre well, which was by far the best
for sound I ever sang at, not even excepting St.
Carlos, at Naples. All the performers were wel-
comed with applause, and Mrs. Jordan, in the
afterpiece of " The Pannel," came in for a great
share of it. Madame Mara was prevailed upon to
perform for a few nights, and Artaxerxes was got
up for her in great style. Kemble at this time had
to fulfil an engagement which he had previously
made at Newcastle. Mrs. Siddons and Mrs. Jordan
were also going away, and Signora Storace was
confined with severe illness ; all this crippled the
theatre very much. Mr. Sheridan gave a dinner at
the Piazza Coffee House to Mr. Holland, the
architect of New Drury, and a number of his
friends were present on the occasion; amongst
others invited, Mr. Kemble, Storace, and myself.
I happened to be placed near Mr. Sheridan, who
at that time knew very little of me except my being
one of his performers ; in the course of the evening,
he was lamenting to me, the situation the theatre
was placed in by the illness and absence of some of
its leading performers, and wished me to suggest
what operatic piece could be got up without them.
After a little thought, I proposed to him to get up
" Cymon," which could be done without any of
the absent performers. Mr. Sheridan replied*
18 REMINISCENCES OF
" Cymon, my good Sir, would not bring sixpence
to the treasury."
" Granted, Sir,"" said I, " Cymon as it now
stands certainly might not; but my reason for
proposing it, is, that I saw at Naples an opera,
at the end of which, was a grand procession and
tournament, triumphal cars, drawn by horses, giants,
dwarfs, leopards, lions, and tigers, which was emi-
nently successful ; and it is my opinion, that Cymon
might be made a vehicle for the introduction of a
similar spectacle. I recollect all the spectacle part
as done at Naples ; and I think, with the novelty of
your present theatre, and the manner in which the
piece can be cast, Cymon would bring a mint of
money to the house."
After a moment's reflection, he said he thought
it would, that he felt obliged to me for the
suggestion, and that he would give directions to
have it brought forward with all possible speed.
The evening was spent with great good humour ;
my friend, Jack Bannister, contributed to its hilarity,
by giving us excellent imitations of several of the
performers of both theatres. At the conclusion, we
adjourned to another room to take coffee ; as
Kemble was walking somewhat majestically towards
the door, and Jack Bannister getting up to go after
him, I hallooed out, " Bannister, follow that lord,
but see you mock him not," as Bannister, a moment
MICHAEL KELLY. 19
before, had been mocking the actors ; the quotation
was thought rather apt, and produced much
laughter.
Mr. Sheridan told Storace that night, that he
was very much pleased with me, and desired him
to bring me the Sunday following to dine with him
in Bruton Street; he did so, and surprising to
relate, Mr. Sheridan was at home to receive us. I
spent a delightful day; and, after that, to the
lamented day of that great man's death, I had the
happiness to enjoy his confidence and society.
Great preparations were made to prepare Cymon ;
no expense was spared ; and the piece was pro-
duced with all splendour and magnificence.
There was some new music introduced by
Stephen Storace and others ; the scenery was beau-
tiful, and the procession magnificent ; generally
speaking, it was admirably performed.
The car, in which were Sylvia and Cymon, was
drawn by two beautiful horses ; and at my feet, as
Cymon, lay a beautiful Cupid. Before the piece
was brought out, I had a number of children
brought to me, that I might choose a Cupid. One
struck me, with a fine pair of black eyes, who
seemed by his looks and little gestures to be most
anxious to be chosen as the representative of the
God of Love ; I chose him, and little then did I
imagine that my little Cupid would eventually
20 REMINISCENCES OF
become a greai actor ; the then little urchin, was
neither more nor less than Edmund Kean. He has
often told me, that he ever after this period felt a
regard for me, from the circumstance of my having
preferred him to the other children. I consider my
having been the means of introducing this great
genius to the stage, one of my most pleasurable
recollections.
It was in this year that Mr. and Mrs. Crouch
separated by mutual consent, he never appreciating
the gem which he possessed.
On the 14th of January, 1792, the Pantheon
theatre was burned. Mr. Sheridan was with me
on that day ; I went with him into Oxford Street,
to view the cpnflagration. While Mr. Sheridan
was observing how very high the flames were, he
said, " Is it possible to extinguish the flames ?" An
Irish fireman was close to us, and who heard him
make the observation, said, " For the love of Hea-
ven, Mr. Sheridan, don't make yourself uneasy,
Sir ; by the Powers, it will soon be down ; sure
enough, they won't have another drop of water in
five minutes. 1 ' Pat said this in the natural warmth
of heart, for he imagined that the burning of the
Pantheon theatre must have been gratifying to Mr.
Sheridan, as the proprietor of Drury Lane.
A part of Mr. Sheridan's conduct, relative to the
Opera company at the Pantheon, I was witness to ;
MICHAEL KELLY. 21
and thought it reflected great credit on him. The
noble directors of that theatre wished to get a patent
for Italian operas at the Pantheon ; they opened
it in the year 1791 with a splendid serious comic
opera, and grand ballets, but they found the stage
so contracted, that it was hardly possible to produce
any thing like spectacle.
At the back of the Pantheon stage there was a
large piece of ground which went as far back as
Marlborough Street, which, with a house adjoining
it, belonged to a Mr. Thompson. The noble
directors of the Pantheon offered to give a large
sum for the purchase of the ground, which would
have enabled them to increase their stage.
Mr. Thompson, whose property it was, had been
an old and faithful servant in Dublin to Mr.
Thomas Sheridan, the father of Mr. Richard
Brinsley Sheridan ; and when Mr. Sheridan was in
office in Mr. Fox^s administration, he procured
Thompson a place in one of the public offices, and
also made him stage property-man of Drury Lane
Theatre. The Duke of Bedford wrote a letter,
which I have seen, to Mr. Sheridan, to request of
him to compel Thompson to sell the piece of ground
they wanted, without which, they could not have
an efficient stage. Sheridan replied to his Grace,
(the letter was sent from my house,) " That he was
sorry he could not grant his request, as the carrying
REMINISCENCES OF
on Italian operas at the Pantheon was most unjust
and unfair towards the claimants on the Opera
House in the Haymarket, as well as to Mr. Taylor,
the chief proprietor, who was making every effort
to rebuild it ; and that, so far from aiding it, he
would do every thing in his power to counteract
it." He immediately saw Thompson, and made a
point with him, not to accept of any proposals from
the Pantheon, which Thompson conceded, and so
ended the business.
In the summer of 1792 I went to Paris to see
what I could pick up in the way of dramatic novelty
for Drury Lane ; and a most interesting period it
certainly was, and not to be forgotten by those who
were there.
I found my old friends and comrades still at the
Italian Opera at the Theatre Feydeau ; there also
I fell in with my worthy countrymen, Colonel
Stark Macarthy, and Captain Fagan; the latter
possessed a vast portion of the ready wit of his
country. I was walking with him one day in the
Place Vendome, in company with a French officer ;
and we stopped to admire the fine piece of sculpture
which then stood there, representing the figure of
Victory, holding a laurel crown of victory over the
head of Louis XIV. The French officer was
enumerating the splendid achievements of that
heroic King, and particularly desired us to observe
MICHAEL KELLY.
the attitude of the figure of Victory ; " Pray, Sir,"
said Fagan, " may I take the liberty of asking a
question is Victory putting the laurel on His
Majesty's head, or taking it off." The question
puzzled the Frenchman, and made me laugh heartily.
At day-break, one morning, I was awakened by
the beating of drums, and an uproar in the street ;
I found the King and Queen had made their escape
from Paris ; the tumult was terrific ; all the gates
of Paris were closed ; the national guards called out ;
in short, all was anarchy and confusion; and
although those dreadful scenes have been too accu-
rately described to need an observation, it is im-
possible for one who has been an eye-witness to the
horrors of a revolution, to refer to the period with-
out touching on the subject.
One evening, I was sitting at the Cafe de Foix,
in the Palais Royal, with my two friends, Macarthy
and Fagan, and at the same table was seated the ,
notorious republican, Tom Paine, and with him the y
well-known Governor Wall; these two worthy
persons were pouring forth to a groupe that crowded
round the table, the most horrid invectives against
the King and Queen; my blood boiled to hear the
miscreants vomit forth their infernal doctrines, and
revolutionary principles. In the midst of their
harangue a courier entered the coffee-room with
intelligence, that the King, Queen, and family had
S4) EEMINISCENCES OF
been taken prisoners at Varennes; never shall I
forget the delight of that caitiff Tom Paine ; his
Bardolph face blazed with delight, and Governor
Wall loudly vociferated curses on their heads. I
and my friends left the coffee-house with grief and
horror, but were obliged to stifle our feelings : the
sad news we found too true ; it was proclaimed in
the Palais Royal, on the Boulevards, and all over
Paris ; and at night there was a general illumination.
The next day Paris was all in a bustle ; couriers
gallopping backwards and forwards, dragged off
their horses by the mob, and obliged to shew their
dispatches before they were allowed to proceed. In
the evening, the King and Queen were expected to
arrive at the Thuilleries, accompanied by their
family and suite. I procured a place to see their
entry, and, through the interest of a friend,
mounted a tree quite close to the palace. The
road through which they were to pass was crowded
for miles.
About six o'clock they entered the Thuilleries. I
shall never forget it ; it was a heart-breaking sight
to see them brought prisoners into their own pa-
lace ; their faithful followers and servants were seated
on the top of their carriages, covered with dust, ac-
companied by an immense body of national guards.
The conduct of the populace I thought most praise-
worthy ; not a voice was heard ; all was silence ; no
MICHAEL KELLY. 25"
exultation, no disapprobation ; in every countenance
around me I saw nothing but depression and sorrow.
I was quite close to the carriage when they dis-
mounted ; nothing could be more majestic than the
conduct of the Queen, when Dupont (member of
the National Assembly,) offered to hand her from
the carriage ; she waved her hand, and walked with
a firm step into the palace, without accepting his
aid. She was plainly dressed, and, I remember,
wore a black bonnet, covered with dust. What a
reverse of fortune ! not quite six years previously I
had seen both the King and Queen dining in public
at Versailles, in health, in happiness, and in great-
ness, the very idols of their subjects ; and now I
beheld them brought back by force to their capital
like malefactors.
I wished to quit such scenes as soon as possible,
and the next morning went to Mr. Merry, His Bri-
tannic Majesty's minister, to procure a passport, but
was more than a week before I could obtain one. I
met at Mr. Merry's, Johnstone's friend, Mr. Eng-
land, who was also waiting to get a passport to take
him to Boulogne-sur-mer ; he kindly offered me a
seat in his carriage, which I thankfully accepted ;
we both got passports, and at nine o'clock at night
left Paris. I had the precaution to put a national
eockade in my hat ; while my companion, who by
the way had been taking so many parting bottles
VOL. II C
26 BEMINISCENCES OF
with his friends that he was greatly intoxicated, fell
fast asleep.
When we got to the post-house, at Ecouen, to
change horses, a crowd of men and women sur-
rounded our carriage, armed with pikes, pitch-forks,
&c. and demanded our passports ; a monster of a
woman, with a pike clenched in her extensive hand,
opened the carriage-door, woke England out of his
sleep, and gave him a hearty shake ; he could not
speak any French, except, unluckily, a few ahusive
words, which he did not fail to bestow upon all
around him. I jumped out of the carriage, and
addressed the huge Sycorax, who appeared to be the
spokeswoman of the infuriated party ; I told her
that my companion and myself were English repub-
licans, shewed her the national cockade which I wore
in my hat, and added, that the gentleman in the
carriage was, unfortunately, very much intoxicated,
with drinking republican toasts before he left Paris.
I shewed her our passports, and, in short, soothed
and flattered the huge harridan so much, that she
let us proceed without further molestation. Our
lives would not have been worth a sous, had I not
spoken French, and taken the method which I did ;
notwithstanding which, I felt very uneasy until I
reached Boulogne, for Mr. England was rather of a
Choleric temper, and could not disguise his dislike
to the French.
MICHAEL KELLY. 27
When I got to Boulogne, I remained with him at
his house there for two days, which were all I could
spare, as the time was approaching at which I was
obliged to be at Oxford, where Mrs. Crouch and I
were engaged to sing at the grand musical festival.
After this short delay, therefore, I took my leave of
Dick England, grateful for the many attentions he
paid me. I cannot omit mentioning a circumstance
that happened, which I thought reflected great
credit on him.
When I was at Dover, previous to my going to
France the last time, there was at the same inn with
me, a young man, a native of Dublin, and a
Quaker, who was going to Dunkirk on some com-
mercial business ; but there being no packet at that
port, and I, being pleased with his society, pre-
vailed upon him to accompany me to Boulogne,
where I knew he would find plenty of land convey-
ances to Dunkirk.
He was a jolly dog, and recounted many stories
of his partiality to the stage, and how he used to
disguise himself to go to the theatre, for fear of its
coming to the knowledge of the elders ; he was a
wet Quaker, a fac-simile of CTKeefe's young Sad
Boy ; and, among other innocent propensities which
hs appeared to have, had certainly a great passion
for gaming. We got to Boulogne early in the morn-
EEMINISCENCES OF
ing, and I proposed to stay there for three or four
days.
On the pier I met with Mr. B , with whom I
had formed a slight acquaintance when at Boulogne
the year before ; he invited himself to dine with me
and young Sad Boy ; we drank a good deal of wine,
and the Spirit moved my young Quaker to excess ;
he was an open-hearted fellow, and told us that his
business at Dunkirk was to receive a large sum of
money, at which intelligence, our visitor, honest
Mr. B , seemed specially delighted. Now, this
self-invited, dinner-taking friend, I knew to be a
great gambler, and leagued with a number of Eng-
lish gamblers in Boulogne and at Paris, to scramble
for what they could get. When Sad Boy had re-
tired to rest, my honourable friend removed all
doubts upon the subject by saying, " Shall we do
the foreigner ?" I asked him what he meant; " to
get part of the money which he is going to fetch
from Dunkirk," said he, "and divide it between
us." I said I would think of it, and confer further
on the subject in the morning.
I knew that the fellow who made the vile propo-
sition derived his chief support from the liberality
of Dick England, and that the gambling transac-
tions of the precious junto were all known to him.
The post was in an hour to set off for Paris ; so
MICHAEL KELLY. 29
before I went to bed I wrote a letter to Dick Eng-
land, at that city, informed him of the proposition
made to me, and the intention of Mr. B to follow
my friend to Dunkirk, and pillage him. I added?
that my Quaker friend was an open-hearted, good-
natured, unsuspicious Irishman, and entreated him
to write to Mr. B -, and lay his injunction on
him to avoid following young Sad Boy, and stated
that I would wait at Boulogne, at Parker's Hotel,
till I received his answer to my letter, which I en-
treated might be immediate.
I waited accordingly ; by return of post I got
a letter from Mr. England, stating that he had writ-
ten to worthy Mr. B to caution him against
directly or indirectly meddling with the Quaker ; on
the contrary, to watch him, and take care that he
did not. fall into the hands of any other decoy.
I shewed England's letter to young Sad Boy, ad-
vised him to be more upon his guard before strangers,
and less communicative ; I saw him safe off for
Dunkirk, and got into my calessetto, on my way to
Paris ; and never, from that day to this, have I seen
Mr. B , who wished me to become a partner in
his iniquity.
As soon as I reached Dover, I started for Lon-
don, where I remained but one day. Mrs. Crouch,
an attached friend of hers (Mrs. Williams), and
I, set off in a travelling carriage for Oxford, where
30 HEMINISCENCES OF
we had lodgings taken for us, at the moderate rate
of twelve guineas for the festival week. When
we got to Salt Hill, Mrs. Crouch was attacked by
dreadful shiverings and spasms ; and when we
reached Henley, found herself unable to proceed*
I immediately sent for medical assistance, and had
the good fortune to meet with Mr. Bayley, a skilful
surgeon and apothecary, who found his patient in
such a state that her removal would have been
undertaken at the hazard of her life. We had to
sing at the festival the next morning, but there was
no alternative ; I was obliged to leave her, and post
to Oxford by myself: I got there just as the^per-
formance was beginning. I informed Dr. Hayes,
the conductor, of Mrs. Crouch's illness, who advised
me to go, after church, to Dr. Wall, the principal
physician in Oxford, and prevail upon him to visit
Mrs. Crouch, at Henley. The Doctor's house was
full of company, and he had a large party to dine
with him ; notwithstanding which, he instantly put
post horses to his carriage, and went off to
Henley.
Immediately after the evening concert was over
I set off for that place myself, and there found the
worthy Doctor, who told me his patient was in
great danger. He remained with her four days
and nights : each morning, at break of day,
I was obliged to post for Oxford, and after the
MICHAEL KELLY. 31
business of the day, return at night to Henley.
The fatigue was wearing to the body, not to speak
of the agony of singing in the church in the morning
and at the concerts in the evening, with an aching
heart and anxious mind.
On the fifth day the worthy Doctor Wall pro-
nounced his patient out of danger, and took his
departure for Oxford, leaving her under the care
of Mr. Bayley. We were obliged to remain there
nearly four weeks, at the end of which period, I
had the gratification to see my valued friend re-
stored to her usual health and beauty. We went
to .Worcester and Birmingham for a few nights, and
returned to London for the opening of the winter
season at the King's Theatre., October 18th.
At that theatre was introduced to the public,
for the first time, the musical romance, called " The
Prisoner," written by the Rev. Mr. Rose, one of
the masters of the Charter House. It was a piece
of much interest ; the principal scene (and a most
effective one it was,) I saw at Paris, and gave it to
the author, who with a great deal of ingenuity, in-
grafted it on his own drama. It was that where
the prisoner escapes by the aid of the gaoler's chil-
dren. Chenard, the French actor's performance of
the gaoler, was very fine acting ; and it is but jus-
tice to say, that Wewitzer's representation of the
same character in its English garb, suffered nothing
32 REMINISCENCES OF
by comparison. The music by Attwood was very
pleasing.
On the 20th of November, the opera of " The
Pirates 1 ' 1 was produced ; the drama by Cobb, the
music by Storace. The male performers in it were
Kelly, Dignum, Sedgwick, Suett, John Bannister,
and Parsons. The females, Mrs. Crouch, Miss
Decamp, Mrs. Bland, and Signora Storace ; the
scenery was picturesque and beautiful, from designs
taken on the spot by Stephen Storace, at Naples.
The magic-lantern scene, representing Hero and
Leander, and the crossing of the Hellespont, was
peculiarly beautiful. Mr. Sheridan directed that
no expense should be spared in decorating the opera,
and his orders were fulfilled. The music was a
master-piece; but, above all, the finale at the end
of the first act, which I thought Storace's chef-
d'oeuvre, and worthy to be placed by the side of
Mozarfs first finale to the " Nozze cli Figaro."
All the performers had characters suited to their
respective abilities, and the opera had a most suc-
cessful run to crowded houses. There was a scene
and a quintette in the third act ; the music com-
posed by Guglielmi, a beautiful morceau, from the
Italian opera performed at the Pantheon, entitled
" La Bella Pescatrice." Stephen Storace thought
so, and therefore introduced it. Whenever Storace
selected, his knowledge of stage-effect was so great.
MICHAEL KELLY.
that the selections were always appropriate and
never-failing.
Mr. Sheridan had this year entered into an ar-
rangement with Mr. Taylor, the proprietor of the
Opera House, to carry on Italian Operas twice a
week. On those nights (Tuesday and Saturday),
the Drury Lane Company performed at the Little
Theatre in the Haymarket ; and at the Opera
House on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday.
On the 24th of January, 1793, there was not
any play performed, from respect to the memory of
the unfortunate monarch, Louis the Sixteenth, Avho
was murdered in Paris on that day. Mr. Kemble,
without consulting Mr. Sheridan, closed the thea-
tre. Mr. Sheridan, who was out "of town, arrived
late that evening, and finding there was no play,
came to my house in Suffolk Street, accompanied
by the present Earl Grey 5 and was highly incensed
at the shutting up of the theatre upon such an
occasion ; for, he said, it was an invariable maxim
with him, that neither politics nor religion should
be taken notice of in his playhouse ; though, I
believe, no man deplored the tragical event more
sincerely than he did.
Mr. Sheridan appointed Stephen Storace and
myself joint directors of the Italian Opera, with a
carte blanche ; but he was proprietor, and of course
c5
REMINISCENCES OF
consulted on all important points ; and whose advice
on theatricals, or any thing else, indeed, was so
good, when he chose to give it. Amongst other
things, he desired that the boxes should be newly
decorated, and the seats in the pit and gallery
covered with new cloth.
One day, when I returned from a late rehearsal
to a hurried dinner, having to return to the theatre
to act in " Cymon," I saw a man waiting in the
passage of my house in Suffolk Street, with patterns
of different coloured cloth, that I might select one
wherewith to cover the seats of the theatre. In a
great hurry, I examined them, and chose one; the
sequel will prove, that it would have been better
for me had I professed myself no judge of up-
holstery.
The Italian Opera Company was good, in both
the serious and comic departments. Signor Bruni,
the first soprano singer, possessed a fine voice and fine
person ; Madame Mara was the prima donna ; and
myself the serious tenor. For the comic opera,
Morelli was the primo buffo ; Rondini, the second
buffo ; Signora Storace, the prima donna ; with
several others.
Paesiello's charming comic opera, the " Zingari in
Fiera," was produced that season ; its popularity
lasted many years. The ballets were of the first
class ; the great Noverre was the ballet-master, and
MICHAEL KELLY. 35
there was a numerous and well-chosen corps de
ballet. Among others, Didelot, L'Abune, Miss
Novelon, Gardel, Aumer, D'Egville, &c. Made-
moiselle Millau (now Madame Gardel), and the fas-
cinating Hillisberg. Noverre produced his mag-
nificent ballet of " L'Iphigenie en Aulide ;" the
splendour of the spectacle, the scenery, the richness
of the decorations and dresses, could not have been
surpassed : the dancing was of the first order, and
the acting of D^Egville, in Agamemnon, inimitable;
the triumphal cars, with horses ; the grand marches,
processions, and above all, the fine grouping of the
corps de ballet, all was vrai classicality, and proved
Noverre to be the greatest master of his art. But
he was a passionate little fellow ; he swore and tore
behind the scenes, so that, at times, he might really
have been taken for a lunatic escaped from his
keeper.
I once felt the effects of his irritability : The
horses attached to the car in which D'Egville was
placed, were led by two men from Astley's, one of
whom was so drunk that he could not go on the
stage. I had been acting in the opera, but was so
eager for the affray, and so anxious that things
should go on right, that I had taken off my opera
dress, and put on that of a Grecian supernumerary,
and, with a vizor on my face, of course was not
known. I held one of the horses, and all went
36 BEMINISCENCES OF
correctly. I was standing be hind the scenes, talking
to one of the men, in my supernumerary dress, and
perhaps rather loudly ; Noverre, who was all fire
and fury, came behind me and gave me a tremendous
kick. " Taisez-vous, bete!" exclaimed he; but
when I took off my vizor, and Noverre found he
had been kicking his manager, he made every pos-
sible apology, which I of course accepted, and
laughed at the incident ; at the same time begging
him not to give me another such striking proof of
his personal attention to the concern. By the way,
the carpenters seemed, by their looks, to say, that
the kicking was better bestowed on me, than on one
of themselves ; however, I can assure the reader it
was the manager's last kick.
At the Little Theatre, the Drury Lane company
performed, on March 7th, a very pretty operatic
piece, called " Osmyn and Daraxa." The drama
was written by Mr. James Boaden, and well re-
ceived ; the music by Attwood was very good. On
the llth of the same month, was acted for the
first time, for Storace's benefit, the " Prize ; or,
2. 5. 3. 8." written by Prince Hoare, the music by
Stephen Storace; it was received with great ap-
plause, and certainly not more than it merited, for
it proved a prize to the theatre.
On the 20th of June, at the same house, with
Mr. Colman's summer company, was performed,
MICHAEL KELLY. 37
" The London Hermit ; or, Rambles in Dorset-
shire," one of O'Keefe's pleasantest productions;
the part of the Irish Cicerone was a clief-d\circn\
as performed by Johnstone. (TKeefe and John-
stone dined with me on the day it was produced,
and I was highly gratified in having at my table
O'Keefe, who had played with me in Dublin, in
" Lionel and Clarissa," before my departure for
Italy. But, alas ! how changed I found him !
When he acted Jessamy, he was a fine, sprightly,
animated young man ; now, poor fellow, broken
down, and almost blind ; but still full of pleasantry
and anecdote. I went to see the comedy, which was
admirably performed, and perfectly succeeded.
This year Drury Lane lost one of its most effi-
cient members, in Mr. Wrighten, the Prompter, a
man most esteemed and respected. I have often
heard, Mr. Sheridan say, that he thought an intelli-
gent prompter of the greatest importance to a well-
regulated theatre: a stage manager was only re-
quired for state days and holidays, but a steady
prompter was the corner-stone of the building.
Wrighten's funeral was attended by all the School
of Garrick, of which I was a member. Jack Ban-
nister was detained on some particular business, and
did not arrive until we were just setting out to the
burial. Charles Bannister said, " For shame, Jack
why are you so much after your time ? If
Wrighten were alive, he^d forfeit you for being late."
38 REMINISCENCES OF
Speaking of the School of Garrick, and of mj
belonging to it, I ought perhaps to explain, that it
was a club formed by a few of the cotemporaries of
the British Roscius, who dined together during the
theatrical winter season, once a month. They did
me the honour (unsolicited on my part) to admit me
among them. I was highly flattered as a young
man, and duly appreciated the favour. It was, of all
societies I ever have been in, perhaps the most
agreeable ; nothing could surpass it for wit, plea-
santry, good humour, and brotherly love. When
I was admitted, I found the following members
belonging to it :
KING, JAMES AICKIN,
DODD, FARREN,
MOODY, AVftoucHTON,
PARSONS, JOHN PALMEU,
BADDELY, ROBERT PALMER,
J. and C. BANNISTER, and
FRANK AICKIN, BURTON.
In mentioning their names, I need not say what
were the flashes of wit and merriment that set the
table in a roar; and yet, with the exception of my
worthy friend, Jack Bannister, (whom God long
preserve !) they are all gone to that bourne from
which no traveller returns.
As they fell off, the following members were
elected in their room :
MICHAEL KELLY, 30
HOLMAN, CHERRY,
HENRY JOIINSTONE, DOWTON,
POPE, MATHEWS,
SUETT, CHARLES KEMBLE.
My friend Pope gave an excellent dinner, upon
the occasion of his election, at his house in Half
Moon Street; and the first Mrs. Pope, the ci-
devant Miss Young, who had acted many of the
principal characters of our Immortal Bard, with
distinguished eclat, was requested to become a
member of the club, by accepting the silver medal
of Garrick, which each member wore at the meet-
ings of the society. She came amongst us, and
seemed to appreciate the flattering attention paid to
her high professional merits. She was the only female
who ever had the compliment paid her ; but, alas !
she, among the rest, is now no more ; and, delight-
ful as the society was, and intellectual as its recrea-
tions were, it gradually dwindled, either from deaths
or desertions, until at last it has become extinct.
Old Moody, who was delighted with every thing
which reminded him of his great master, was almost
broken-hearted at the event. I was always partial
to Moody's agreeable society ; so, to indulge the
old gentleman, I proposed that he and I should
meet once a month, dine together, and keep up the
form of the club, which we did for some time.
40 REMINISCENCES OF
I remember upon one of these occasions, I per-
ceived, as we sat over our bottle, that he was more
than usually low spirited, and I ventured to ask,
what made him so ? " My dear fellow," said he,
" I feel myself the most miserable of men, though
blessed with health and affluence. Such is the de-
testable vice of avarice, which I feel growing upon
me, that parting with a single sixpence, is to me like
parting with a drop of my heart's blood, for which
reason, unconquerable as the growing passion is, I
feel that I ought to be abhorred and detested by
mankind/'
I endeavoured to rally him out of so singular a
feeling ; and as far as I am personally concerned, I
can vouch for it, that he had no just reason for
indulging it ; for when I was desirous of purchasing
the lease of my house, in Pall Mall, and happened
to say in his presence, that I wanted ^.500 to com-
plete the bargain, he called upon me the following
day and offered me the loan of that sum, upon
no other security than my simple note of hand.
At the tete-a-tete meetings of the club he was, at
times, very entertaining, and told me many stories
of himself. Amongst others, he said that, early in
life, he was sent out to Jamaica ; and on his return
to England, went on the stage unknown to his
friends. I do not recollect the name of the ship
MICHAEL KELLY. 41
in which he told me he came back to England ; but
he informed me, that lie worked his passage home
as a sailor before the mast.
One night, some time after he had been on the
stage, when he was acting Stephano in the " Tem-
pest,"" a sailor, in the front row of the pit of Drury
Lane, got up, and standing upon the seat, hallooed
out, " What cheer, Jack Moody, what cheer,
messmate ?"
This unexpected address from the pit rather
astonished the audience. Moody, however, stepped
forward to the lamps, and said, " Jack Hullet,
keep your jawing tacks aboard don't disturb the
crew and passengers ; when the show is over, make
sail for the stage-door, and well finish the evening
over a bowl of punch ; but till then, Jack, shut
your locker."
After the play was ended, the rough son of Nep-
tune was shewn to Moody 's dressing-room, and
thence they adjourned to the Black Jack, in Clare
Market (a house which Moody frequented), and
spent a jolly night over sundry bowls of arrack.
This story, told by himself in his humourous
manner, was very amusing.
Previous to the dissolution of the club, one night,
when we were full of mirth and glee, and Moody
seated, like Jove in his chair, and Mathews,
t amongst other members, present, a waiter came in
42 REMINISCENCES OF
to tell Mr. Henry Johnstone, that a gentleman
wished to speak to him in the next room. In a few
minutes we heard a great noise and bustle, and
Henry Johnstone, in a loud tone, say, " Sir, you
cannot go into the room where the club is ; none
but members are on any account admitted ; such
are our rules."
" Talk not to me of your rules," said the
stranger ; " I insist upon being admitted." And
after a long controversy of, " I will go;" and
" You shan't go ;" the door was burst open, and
both contending parties came tumbling in.
The stranger placed himself next to me, and
I thought him the ugliest and most impudent
fellow I ever met with. He went on with a rhap-
sody of nonsense, of his admiration of our society,
that he could not resist the temptation of joining it,
filled himself a glass of wine, and drank to our
better acquaintance.
Moody, with great solemnity, requested him to
withdraw, for no one could have a seat at that table
who was not a member.
The stranger replied, " I don't care for your
rules ; talk not to me of your regulations I will
not stir an inch !"
" Then," cried the infuriated Moody, " old as I
am, I will take upon myself to turn you out."
Moody jumped up, and throttled the stranger,
MICHAEL KELLY. 4#
who defended himself manfully ; all was confusion,
and poor Moody was getting black in the face ;
when the stranger threw off his wig, spectacles, and
false nose, and before us stood Mathews himself, in
propria persona. So well did he counterfeit his
assumed character, that except Henry Johnstone,
who was his accomplice in the plot, not one amongst
us suspected him.
Moody, when undeceived, was delighted, and
added his tribute of applause to Mathews; and
the evening passed off as usual, with glee and
revelry. The part was admirably managed by
Mathews, who had taken an opportunity of leaving
the room to prepare himself for his disguise, while a
song was going on, which engrossed the attention
of the company, and so slipped out unnoticed. I
have mentioned this circumstance in perhaps a
wrong place, for it happened many years after the
period of which I was previously treating ; but as I
was on the subject of the School of Garrick, I
thought the anachronism excusable.
In the summer of 1793, Mrs. Crouch, and I had
engagements at Birmingham, Manchester, Chester,.
Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Liverpool ; and at
Dublin, for December, January, and February.
Previous to going there, we played a few nights
at Liverpool. My benefit was the last night of our
engagement. In the morning of that eventful day.
44 REMINISCENCES OF
crossing Williamson Square to go to the theatre, a
gentleman stopped me, and accosting me with the
most pointed civility, informed me that he had a
writ against me for 350Z. ; I, at the time, not owing
a sixpence to any living creature.
I said he must be mistaken in his man. He
shewed me the writ which was at the suit of a
Mr. Henderson, an upholsterer in Coventry-street ;
and the debt, he said, had been incurred for
furnishing the Opera House with covering for the
boxes, pit, &c. Sec. So, instead of preparing for
the custody of Locket, on the stage, (for " The
Beggar's Opera" was the piece to be acted), I was
obliged to go to a spunging-house.
I requested the sheriff's officer, who was ex-
tremely civil, to accompany me to Mrs. Crouch, to
consult what I had best do ; she advised me by no
means to acknowledge the debt, but to go to the
Exchange, and state publicly the cause of my
arrest, and to ask any gentleman there to become
bail ; making over to such bail, as a security,
nearly five hundred pounds, which we luckily had
paid into Mr. Heywood's bank, in Liverpool, three
days before ; but Mr. Frank Aickin, who was then
manager, rendered any such arrangement unneces-
sary, as he very handsomely came forward and
bailed me. I was therefore released, and performed
Macheath that night to a crowded house.
MICHAEL KELLY. 45
I sent my servant to London by the mail, with
an account of the transaction to Mr. Sheridan, who
immediately settled the debt in his own peculiar
way. He sent for Henderson the upholsterer, to
his house ; and after describing the heinous cruelty
he had committed, by arresting a man who had
nothing to do with the debt, and who was on a
professional engagement in the country, expatiated
and remonstrated, explained and extenuated, until he
worked so much upon the upholsterer, that in less
than half an hour, he agreed to exonerate me and
my bail ; taking, instead of such security, Mr.
Sheridan's bond ; which, I must say, was extremely
correct in the upholsterer. But Mr. Sheridan
never did tilings by halves ; and therefore, before
the said upholsterer quitted the room he contrived
to borrow 200J. of him, in addition to the original
claim, and he departed, thinking himself highly
honoured by Mr. Sheridan's condescension in
accepting the loan.
I have seen many instances of Mr. Sheridan's
power of raising money when pushed hard ; and
one among the rest, I confess even astonished me.
He was once 3,000/. in arrear with the performers
of the Italian opera : payment was put off from day
to day, and they bore the repeated postponements
with Christian patience; but, at last, even their
docility revolted, and finding all the tales of Hope
flattering, they met, and resolved not to perform
46 REMINISCENCES OF
any longer until they were paid. As manager^ I
accordingly received on the Saturday morning their
written declaration, that not one of them would
appear at night. On getting this, I went to Messrs.
Morlands" 1 banking-house, in Pall Mall, to request
some advances, in order to satisfy the performers for
the moment ; but, alas ! my appeal was vain, and
the bankers were inexorable, they, like the singers,
were worn out, and assured me, with a solemn oath
that they would not advance another shilling either
to Mr. Sheridan or the concern, for that they were
already too deep in arrear themselves.
This was a pozer ; and with a heart rather
sad I went to Hertford Street, May fair, to Mr.
Sheridan, who at that time had not risen. Having
sent him up word of the urgency of my business,
after keeping me waiting rather more than two
hours in the greatest anxiety, he came out of his
bed-room. I told him unless he could raise 3,000/.
the theatre must be shut up, and he, and all be-
longing to the establishment, be disgraced.
" Three thousand pounds, Kelly ! there is no
such sum in nature," said he, with all the coolness
imaginable ; nay, more than I could have imagined
a man, under such circumstances, capable of. " Are
you an admirer of Shakspeare ?""
" To be sure I am, 17 said I ; " but what has Shak-
speare to do with 8,000/. or the Italian singers ?"
" There is one passage in Shakspeare/' said he,
MICHAEL KELLY. 47
" which I have always admired particularly ; and it
is that where Falstaff says, ' Master Robert Shallow,
I owe you a thousand pounds. 1 ' Yes, Sir John,'
says Shallow, ' which I beg you will let me take
home with me.' ' That may not so easy be, Master
Robert Shallow, 1 replies Falstaff; and so say I unto
thee, Master Mick Kelly, to get three thousand
pounds may not so easy be."
" Then, Sir,'' said I, " there is no alternative
but closing the Opera House;" and not quite
pleased with his apparent carelessness, I was
leaving the room, when he bade me stop, ring the
bell, and order a hackney-coach. He then sat
down, and read the newspaper, perfectly at his
ease, while I was in an agony of anxiety. When
the coach came, he desired me to get into it, and
order the coachman to drive to Morland's, and
to Morland's we went ; there he got out, and
I remained in the carriage in a state of nervou s
suspense not to be described ; but in less than
a quarter of an hour, to my joy and surprise,
out he came, with 3,OOOZ. in bank notes in his
hand. By what hocus pocus he got it, I never knew,
nor can I imagine even at this moment ; but certes
he brought it to me, out of the very house where,
an hour or two before, the firm had sworn that they
would not advance him another sixpence.
He saw, by my countenance, the emotions of
48 REMINISCENCES OF
surprise and pleasure his appearance, so provided,
had excited ; 'and, laughing, bid me take the money
to the treasurer, but to be sure to keep enough out
of it to buy a barrel of native oysters, which he
would come and roast at night, at my house in
Suffolk Street.
After my benefit, at Liverpool, we performed a
few nights at Chester, where I met a Major Hal-
liday, who was doatingly fond of the stage, and
particularly of acting Hamlet. He did so one night
at the Chester theatre to a crowded house. I have
seen many worse professional Hamlets ; Mrs. Crouch
was the Ophelia. I went to spend a couple of days
with him at his place, within a few miles of Parkgate,
accompanied by Messrs. Banks and Ward, the
proprietors of the Chester and Manchester theatres,
where we were entertained most hospitably. He
had, living with him, a very pleasant and agreeable
fellow, a Captain Stanley, who, for many years,
was no slouch at the bottle, any more than the
Major himself, who studied quantity as well as
quality ; however, poor Captain Stanley was nearly
blind, and one dark night, he was found drowned.
It was strange that water should have been the
cause of a man's death, who had a natural aversion
from it during his life : he was lamented by all who
bad enjoyed his pleasant society.
After concluding our Chester engagement, we
MICHAEL KELLY. 49
set off for Dublin. Mrs. Siddons was just finishing
her performances there; then King was to play
for a fortnight, and then Mrs. Crouch and myself
were to take the field.
During the whole of my friend King's stay in
Dublin, he used to come every night after acting,
and sup with me, and delightful indeed was his
society. He had an inexhaustible fund of anec-
dote, which he told in a way peculiar to himself,
and, like Anacreon, blended to the last, the flower
of youth with the hoary frost of age.
I was standing behind the scenes, in Crow Street*
one night, and I saw him for once rather put out of
temper. The play was the School for Scandal ; he
was at the side wing, waiting to go on the stage, as
Sir Peter Teazle. At the stage-door was seated an
immensely fat woman, the widow of Ryder, the
celebrated Irish actor, who had been the original Sir
Peter Teazle, in Dublin, in the summer of 1777.
The lusty dame, looking at King, who was stand-
ing close to her, hollowed out, with an implacable
brogue, and the lungs of a Stentor, " Arrah ! agra !
there was but one Sir Peter Teazle in the world, and
he is now in heaven, and more is the pity. Ah !
Tom Ryder ! Tom Ryder ! look down upon Sir
Peter Teazle here, your dirty representative :" and
after this complimentary harangue, the wretched lady
began to howl most piteously, to the great annoy-
ance of all behind the scenes, but most particularly
VOL. II. D
50 REMINISCENCES OF
to that of King, who appeared really disconcerted.
However, the widow was removed, tranquillity was
restored, the cloud dispersed, and King acted with
his usual excellence. Two nights after this rencontre,
he had to act his favourite part, Lord Ogilby. I
was at dinner, with a couple of friends, at my own
house, and received the following note from him :
"Mv DEAR KELLY,
" I am just come to the theatre, to dress for Lord
Ogilby, and asked my dresser to hand me a wine-cork,
to mark the lines of my face ; he has seriously sworn to
me, that he had been looking every where, all over Dublin,
and could not procure a cork. Now, my good friend, if you
should have such a thing, by any chance, as a cork, and will
send it to me, Lord Ogilby's visage will be much indebted
to you for the donation."
I thought he was hoaxing ; but when he came to
sup with me after the play, he assured me it was a
true bill ; and when I found who his dresser was, I
was not surprised. He was a merry wag, of the
name of Tuke, a fellow of low humour, a veritable
Dicky Gossip; whose former profession had been
hair-dressing, and who was then the stage property-
man at the Dublin Theatre.
When John Kemble was performing the part of
Alexander there, with great eclat, he wore armour
and a helmet, which were made by Tuke, of which
Tuke was very proud. After Kemble had quitted
MICHAEL KELLY. 51
the theatre, upon some particular occasion, the play
was again performed ; and Daly, the proprietor and
manager, undertook to act the part of Alexander
himself, and ordered a new helmet. Tuke took the
helmet to him, but Daly found it so very much
inferior to the one which he had made for Kemble,
that he flung it in his face, and bestowed upon him
a torrent of abuse, for attempting to give him so
shabby a helmet for Alexander.
Tuke replied, Mr. Daly, Sir, I think the
helmet is a proper good one ; Mr. Kemble, (God
Almighty bless him !) would not have found fault
with it. Ah ! he is a player ! and would know
how to put it on his head ; and if you, Mr. Daly,
could act the part of Alexander the Great as
well as Mr. Kemble, by my soul, you would believe
yourself to be the son of Jove in right earnest.""
The remark, coming from a common man, was
rather good. This anecdote I heard from Mr.
Daly himself.
At this period, the Beggar's Opera was prohibited
by the Irish Government from being acted, which
of course made the public more eager to see it. It
was suggested, that if I could make interest to get
permission to have it acted for my benefit, it would
draw a great house. I, therefore, waited on my
good friend, Mrs. Jefferies, sister to Lord Clare ?
the Lord Chancellor, to entreat her to use her in-
52 REMINISCENCES OF
fluence with his Lordship to get me permission to*
have it acted. She pleaded my cause with great
zeal, got a verdict in my favour, and the per-
formance of it brought me an overflowing house.
The managers ought to have been well pleased
that I took this measure and carried it; for the
piece, ever since that time, has kept its station on
the Dublin stage.
I found my sojourn in Dublin very pleasant ;
all kindness and hospitality. I had the pleasure
of associating, a great deal, with my friend Mr.
Curran; and at his house, on Stephen r s Green,
had the honour of meeting the late Messrs. Pon-
sonby and Egan, Lord Norbury, and several of
the stars of the Irish bar. I never spent a plea-
santer time ; nor could I perceive, amongst any of
those learned gentlemen, an illustration of Dr.
Johnson's remark " that there must be a kind of
solemnity in a professional man."
After a very profitable and pleasant campaign,
we finished our Dublin engagement, and prepared
to fulfil those made in Manchester, Shrewsbury,
and Birmingham, in our way to open New Drury.
We agreed, for the first time in our lives, to go by
a Liverpool packet, and sent our trunks, &c. to the
Marine Hotel, to be put on board.
On the morning proposed for our departure,
Hitchcock, Daly's stage-manager, called upon us
MICHAEL KELLY. 53
to say, that they were going to perform the ensuing
evening (for the first time), " The Mountaineers,"
and called to ask us, as we had seen it performed in
London, what kind of scenery, dresses, and deco-
rations, ought to be got ready for its representation.
I laughed heartily at the idea of having only one
day to prepare all those materials, and said to Mrs.
Crouch, I would give any thing to see in what pos-
sible way the play could be done in the time.
" Well," said she, " that matter is easily ar-
ranged ; the term of our lodgings is not up for
four days to come; and by our engagement we
are not obliged to be at Manchester until this day
week ; send for our trunks, and let us stop." The
proposition pleased me much, and we remained,
and saw " The Mountaineers" the night following ;
and it was a discredit to any barn. But blessed
are the ways of Providence ; had not my appa-
rently idle curiosity induced us to remain, most
certain it is that we should have met a watery grave ;
the Liverpool packet, in which we were to have
sailed, foundered on the Welsh coast, and every
soul on board perished.
Three days after that melancholy event, we took
our passage in a packet for Holyhead, where we
arrived safe, after a pleasant passage of seven hours,
and set off to fulfil our engagement at Manchester.
We went to the Bridge water Arms Hotel, and in
54 REMINISCENCES OF
the coffee-room I saw a London newspaper, menv
tioning the loss of the Liverpool packet; and,
among the names of the unfortunate passengers
who were lost, were Mrs. Crouch's and my own,
with an elegiac eulogium deploring our fate, and
making many handsome remarks upon us. Never
did I read praise of myself with such unfeigned
and lively feelings of pleasure.
On the following day, in another London paper,
was a letter addressed to the editor, dated Liver-
pool, with Mr. Frank Aickin's name forged to it,
stating that he had just returned from the funeral
of poor Kelly and Mrs. Crouch, who were followed
to the grave by a vast concourse of people, all bit-
terly lamenting their untimely end. I never dis-
covered the fellow who wrote this letter, but, who-
ever he was, he must have had a heart callous to
every right feeling.
There was an odd coincidence at the time.
Mrs. Crouch (who was always kindly attentive to
her father), before she left Liverpool to go to
Dublin, gave Mr. Packer, of Drury Lane Theatre,
with whom she was intimate, a paper for Mr.
Philips, wherein she bequeathed to him, in case any
accident happened to her, a certain property ; but
begged of Mr. Packer not to deliver the paper to
Mr. Philips, unless he heard that any disaster had
befallen her. Packer, when he heard of her sup-
MICHAEL KELLY. 55
posed death, went immediately to Mr. Philips, who
was confined to his bed with the gout, to reveal to
him the melancholy catastrophe, and deliver the
paper consigned to his charge. Just as he was
about to open the business, the postman came to
the door, with a letter from Mrs. Crouch herself,
to her father, dated at Manchester, informing him
of her being in excellent health and spirits. Of
course, the letter was satisfactory to all parties, and
the contradiction of the report was inserted in all
the newspapers.
On our appearance at Manchester, our reception
was enthusiastic, as it was every where, both on and
off the stage; we were well known on the roads,
and at all the inns we went to, on our way to
Shrewsbury, Birmingham, and London, we were
overwhelmed with congratulations on our safety ;
and, after all our adventures, arrived, at the be-
ginning of February, in Suffolk Street, where we
found my friend, Stephen Storace, waiting for us.
On the 3rd of February, I witnessed an ap-
palling spectacle, at the Little Theatre in the Hay-
market: their Majesties, on that night, had
commanded three pieces,-" My Grandmother,"
" No Song, no Supper," and " The Prize," all
written by my friend, Prince Hoare. To have
them all performed on the same night, by royal
command, was no small compliment to the author,
56 REMINISCENCES OF
and must have been highly satisfactory to him,-
The crowd was so great, that at the opening of the
doors, in going down the steps which led to the pit,
three or four persons slipped and fell, arid several
others were hurried over them ; sixteen persons
were trampled to death, and upwards of twenty
were taken up with broken limbs. The news of
this fatal accident was, very judiciously, kept from
their Majesties until after the performance was
over, when they evinced the deepest sorrow and
regret at the event.
On the first Friday in Lent, March 12th, 1794,
was opened the New Drury Lane Theatre, with
a sacred oratorio, commencing with Handel's im-
mortal Coronation Anthem ; the orchestra repre-
sented the interior of a Gothic cathedral, and had
a most sublime effect. And on the 21st of March,
the theatre opened for the representation of dramas,
with " Macbeth." A prologue, from the pen of
the Right Honourable Major-General Fitzpatrick,
was spoken by Mr. Kemble, with great applause.
The day previous to the opening of the theatre,
Colonel North, Sir Charles Bampfylde, Messrs.
Richardson, Nield, Reed, Sheridan, and John
Kemble, were to dine with me in Suffolk Street; an
hour and a half before dinner, Kemble and I called
at General Fitzpatrick's, to get the prologue, which
Kemble was to speak the next night. Kembla
MICHAEL KELLY. 57
came . with me to Suffolk Street ; and had I not
seen it, I could not have thought it possible : while
we were waiting dinner for Mr. Sheridan, Kemble
studied the prologue, which consisted of fifty lines,
and was perfect in every word of it before dinner
was announced : a powerful proof of his retentive
memory and quick study, for, to my certain know-
ledge, he had it not in his possession, altogether,
more than an hour and a half.
I have often heard him say, that he would make
a bet that in four days he would repeat every line
in a newspaper, advertisements and all, verbatim, in
their regular order, without misplacing or missing a
single word.
The epilogue for the opening, was written by
George Colman, and spoken in a fascinating manner
by Miss Farren, explaining to the audience the
utility of an iron curtain and a reservoir of water,
in case of accidents by fire, which told remarkably
well at the time, although the theatre was subse-
quently burnt to the ground. It ended with a
well-turned compliment to Shakspeare, whose statue
was discovered under a mulberry tree at the rising
of the iron curtain.
Macbeth was splendidly got up, the costume
appropriately preserved; the choruses were finely
executed with all the strength of the company.
I had die direction and getting up of the delightful
D5
58 REMINISCENCES OF
music, and suggested a change which has been ever
since adopted, and I think with good effect. It had
been the custom for one witch only to sing
He must he will he shall
Spill much more blood.
My alteration was
FIRST WITCH. He must !
SECOND WITCH. He will !
THIRD WITCH He SHALL !
Spill much more blood !
laying great stress upon the climax, " He shall /""
The alteration was much approved of.
There was another novelty in the witchery,
at the words " Mingle, mingle ye, that mingle
may,"" a great number of little boys came on as
spirits; I must confess it produced something like
laughter; they were, however, persisted in, for
several nights, but at last discontinued, for there
was no keeping the little boys in order ; they made
such a terrible noise behind the scenes : one little
urchin used to play all kinds of tricks; and that
one, odd enough to say, was my ci-devant Cupid,
Edmund Kean, and, on his account, Kemble
dismissed the whole tribe of phantoms.
The play was powerfully cast: Macbeth, Kem-
ble; Macduff, John Palmer; Banquo, Bensley ;
MICHAEL KELLY. 59
Malcolm, Charles Kemble, who, on that night,
made his first appearance before a London audience;
Charles Bannister was the Hecate, and admirable
he was in it; Mrs. Siddons was Lady Macbeth ;
and Parsons, Moody, and Baddely, the speaking
witches.
On the 9th of June, the splendid musical
spectacle of " Lodoiska," translated from the French
by John Kemble, was produced; the translation
w0s highly creditable to his talents, and the poetry
admirably suited to the music, which Storace, with
his never-failing taste and judgment, selected from
the rival composers, Cherubini and Kreutzer.
I was in Paris at the first representation of
" Lodoiska" at both theatres. Kreutzer's was
performed at the Theatre des Italiens, and Cheru-
bim's at the Feydeau, both got up with great
effect and care; but, partiality apart, the Drury
Lane piece surpassed them both. Storace selected
the most effective music from either, and enriched
the piece with some charming melodies of his own
composition ; the scenery was picturesquely grand
and beautiful, the dresses in perfect costume. Mr.
Kemble took great pains in getting up the piece, all
the minutiae were especially attended to, and it was
enthusiastically received by the public.
In the last scene, when Mrs. Crouch was in the
burning castle, the wind blew the flames close to
60 REMINISCENCES OF
her; but still she had sufficient fortitude not to
move from her situation ; seeing her in such peril
I ran up the bridge, which was at a great height
from the ground, towards the tower, in order to
rescue her; just as I was quitting the platform, a
carpenter, prematurely, took out one of its suppor-
ters, down I fell; and at the same moment, the
fiery tower, in which was Mrs. Crouch, sank down
in a blaze, with a violent crash ; she uttered a scream
of terror. Providentially I was not hurt by the
fall, and catching her in my arms, scarcely knowing
what I was doing, I carried her to the front of the
stage, a considerable distance from the place where
we fell. The applause was loud and continued. In
fact, had we rehearsed the scene as it happened, it
could not have appeared half so natural, or produced
half so great an effect. I always afterwards carried
her to the front of the stage, in a similar manner,
and it never failed to produce great applause.
Such are, at times, the effects of accident.
On that night, Mr. Sheridan came to sup with
us ; and I told him I was lucky in not having
broken my neck. He left us earlier than usual, to
go to the Duchess of Devonshire's. The Duchess?
who had been at the theatre, asked him if I was
much hurt ; to which (with his usual good nature
in making blunders for me) he replied, * Not in the
least ; I have just left him very well, and in good;
MICHAEL KELLY-
spirits ; but he has been putting a very puzzling
question to me, which was, ' Suppose, Mr. Sheri.
dan, I had been killed by the fall, who would have
maintained me for the rest of my life ?'"
The overture to " Lodoiska*" is one of the most
spirited compositions I ever heard, and was ad-
mirably played by the Drury Lane band. Storace
had the second movement of it struck off in an
allegro spirituoso time, which electrified the
audience, who called for its repetition with vehement
applause; yet, when I went to Paris, I heard the
same overture, (which by the way was not the
original one, nor that which I had heard when
before in Paris) of which the second movement, so
brilliantly performed at Drury Lane, was played
slow, by which it lost all its effect. I was introduced
to Kreutzer, the composer of it, and sat down to
the piano-forte, and played it in the time in which
it was played in England; he thought himself
the effect would be better: and on the 18th of
August, 1802, Napoleon^s birth-day, there was a
grand orchestra in the Thuilleries, conducted by
Kreutzer, who was the first violin; he led his
overture to " Lodoiska," in the same time as it was
played at Drury Lane; the effect was prodigious,
and shouts of applause followed.
At this period, Mr. Sheridan was getting largely
in my debt ; I, myself, was not keeping out of debt.
62 REMINISCENCES OF
and my wine bills were very large ; the purple tide
flowed by day and night ; and I never stopped it,
for then " I took the DRUNKARD for a GOD."
One day, I called upon him, and requested he
would let me have a little money ; he put me off, as
usual, with promising he would let me have some
to-morrow. To-morrow was always his favourite
pay-day ; but, like the trust-day at a French inn,
that morrow never did I see. In the midst of all
this, he told me how much he was pleased with
Tom Welsh, (then a boy,) and his singing
" Angels, ever bright and fair," the night before.
" He should be encouraged," said he ; " go and
tell him, that, in addition to his salary, I shall send
him a present of 200/. ; and you shall take it to
him." "-Shall I?" said I, (making the quotation
from Lionel and Clarissa), u I think the borough
maybe disposed of to a worthier candidate;" but
neither Welsh nor I ever got a halfpenny of the
money.
On the 2nd of July, a new musical piece was
produced, entitled, " The Glorious First of June !"
written by Mr. Cobb, for the benefit of the widows
of the brave men who fell on that day. It was well
suited to the purpose, and was a sequel to " No
Song, no Supper ;" it was all got up in three days.
Mr. Joseph Richardson^ wrote an elegant prologue
on the occasion, which was spoken, with great feel-
MICHAEL KELLY. 613
Ing, by John Kemble ; the piece concluded with a
grand sea-fight, and a sumptuous fete, in honour of
our glorious victory. Storace and myself gave it
some new songs ; but the music was chiefly old. I
had to represent the character of Frederick ; and as
I was so much employed in writing the music, I
begged Mr. Sheridan (who wrote a good many
speeches for it), to make as short a part for me, and
with as little speaking in it as possible. He assured
me he would.
In the scene in which I came on, to sing a song
(written by Cobb), " When in war on the ocean
we meet the proud foe !" there was a cottage in the
distance, at which (the stage direction said) I was
to look earnestly, for a moment or two ; and the line
which I then had to speak was this :
" There stands my Louisa's cottage, she must be either in it,
or out of it."
The song began immediately, and not another word
was there in the whole part. This sublime and
solitary speech produced a loud laugh from the
audience.
When the piece was over, Mr. Sheridan came
into the green-room, and complimented me on my
quickness, and being so perfect in the part which
he had tatfen so much pains to write for me ; which,
he said, considering the short time I had to study
4 REMINISCENCES OF
it, was truly astonishing. He certainly had the
laugh against me, and he did not spare me.
Mrs. Crouch and I were engaged at the Edin-
burgh Theatre, during the Leith Races ; I had a
letter from my Apicius, Tate Wilkinson, asking us
to stop and play one night at Leeds, on our way
thither, which we did. " The Siege of Belgrade"
drew an excellent house ; we spent a very pleasant
evening, and picked up a little loose cash to pay
turnpikes.
I was delighted with the journey, and very much
pleased with Edinburgh ; the New Town appeared
to me to resemble Florence, with the superlative
advantage of a sea-view. The prospect from the
Calton Hill, and Arthurs Seat, filled me with ad-
miration. I was also struck with the great resem-
blance between the Old Town and many parts of
Paris, particularly in the height of their houses,
and some other points which shall be nameless.
I found Mr. Jackson, of Edinburgh, a pleasing,
well-informed man, and rather popular as a ma-
nager ; and to be that, is no easy matter any where.
I remember, when a child, to have heard his per-
formance of Alcanor, in the tragedy of " Mahomet,"
highly spoken of; and that, in the famous speech of
" Curse these vipers," &c. &c.
he was encored three times a night ; during which
S1ICHAEL KELLT. &3
period, parties ran so high, that, between the pyos
and cons, they kept the theatre, for many nights,
in tumult and riot. Mrs. Jackson was rather a
popular tragic actress with the Edinburgh audi-
ence, and possessed much merit. There was a Mr.
Wood in the company, a very great favourite, who
was esteemed an excellent master of elocution, and
a very worthy man, but a great oddity. His great
ambition was to do every thing that Garrick used to
do ; he rose at the same hour, shaved, breakfasted,
and dined at the same hour ; ate and drank whatever
he heard was Garrick V taste; in short, nothing
could please him more than to copy Garrick impli-
citly, and to be thought to do so.
I was walking with him one day ; and, knowing
his weak point, assured him that King had often
told me that when Garrick was to perform any part
to which he wished to give all his strength and
energy, he used to prevail upon Mrs. Garrick to
accompany him to his dressing-room at the theatre,
and, for an hour before the play began, rub his
head, as hard as she could, with hot napkins, till
she produced copious perspiration ; and the harder
he was rubbed, and the more he was temporarily
annoyed by it, the more animation he felt in acting.
This (as I thought it) harmless joke of mine, turned
out a matter of serious importance to poor Mrs.
.Wood; for a long time afterwards, whenever he
66 REMINISCENCES OF
had to act, particularly in any new part, he actually
made her go to his dressing-room, as I had sug-
gested, and rub away till she was ready to drop
with fatigue, and he, with the annoyance which
her exertions produced. The effect of the process
upon his performance, however, did not, by any
means, keep pace with the labour.
During our stay in Edinburgh, we brought very
good houses, and had two excellent benefits. My
late friend Perry, proprietor of the Morning Chro-
nicle, gave me several letters to his literary friends
and others ; among whom was ]\Ir. Gillies, now
Lord Gillies, whose brother is a merchant in
London, and who shewed me many attentions. I
had the honour also to be particularly noticed by
his Grace the Duke of Queensberry, who was at
Edinburgh for Leith Races. It was a novel sight
to me, to see from the sands, horses at full speed,
and ships in full sail, at no great distance from each
other ; and the shore covered with gay equipages.
I cannot omit mentioning the many pleasant days
I spent with Signer Natali Corri, his wife, and
sister. Signor Corri was the first singing-master in
Edinburgh ; his wife and sister sang at the Sub-
scription Concerts, which he carried on there with
great eclat. They were natives of Strasburg and
Alsace, and sang duets most pleasingly. Signor
Corri had also a large magazine, for the sale of
MICHAEL KELLY. 67
music and musical instruments ; he was in partner-
ship with his brother, a very worthy man, married
to a beautiful woman, a native of Rome. At these
concerts, I heard a Signer Urbani, a good professor,
and, like his countryman, David Rizzio, very par-
tial to Scotch melodies, some of which he sang very
pleasingly, though in a falsetto voice. There was
also a young Italian, of the name of Stabilini,
a first-rate violin; and a Signor Cecchi, a good
violoncello performer. I used to meet them at the
house of the great Scotch physician, Dr. Cullum,
who was devoted to music, and gave the professors
of it the greatest encouragement. His hospitable
mansion was always open to them, and his much-
esteemed professional advice always gratuitously at
their service.
After enjoying a delightful and profitable ex-
cursion, we took leave of our kind Edinburgh
friends for Lancaster, and went, in our comfortable
travelling-carriage, to visit the Lakes of Cumber-
land and Westmoreland ; and an enchanting tour we
had.
We remained two days at Keswick. Lord Wil-
liam Gordon was then at his picturesque cottage on
the Lake, and did us the favour to give us an invi-
tation, which we had great pleasure in accepting.
In our way through York, we stopped at our hos-
pitable friend, Tate Wilkinson's, and had a plea-
03 REMINISCENCES OF
sant day, with the exception of a slight quarrel be-
tween Tate and his wife, a thing which will occur
in the best regulated families. The latter was guilty
of the enormous neglect of not having apple-sauce
with a huge roasted goose. Tate, all dinner-time,
exclaiming, " Fie ! Mrs. Wilkinson, oh ! fie !"
" No apple-sauce, Ma'am !" " Mrs. W. is a
mighty good woman, Ma'am !" " but goose with-
out apple-sauce !" " Ugh !"
We got to Lancaster in time for the assize week,
during the whole of which we performed at the
theatre to crowded houses. Nothing occurred to
merit particular notice while we remained there.
We also performed a few nights at Birmingham ;
and while there, were on a visit at the house of Mr.
Cox, a respectable, well-informed man ; a great
book-collector, and very fond of theatricals. He
had made an ample fortune in business, and was
then on the point of retiring. The attentions which
I received from him and his amiable lady, can never
be forgotten by me ; nor can I omit mentioning Mr.
William Macready, the manager of the Birming-
ham Theatre, who, in theatrical business, I ever
found honest, upright, obliging, clever, and friendly,
and in all his dealings, whether Fate smiled or
frowned, a man of punctuality and rectitude. I am
extremely happy here to pay a just tribute to his
worth.
MICHAEL KELLY. 60
Tor the opening of the winter season, we arrived
at our house in Suffolk Street, in cheering health
and spirits.
About this time, we used to pass many pleasant
evenings with Mrs. Robinson, the ci-devant beauti-
ful Perdita, at her house in St. Jameses Place. She
and Mrs. Crouch had a sincere esteem for each
other ; she gave very pleasant petits soupers, where
she and her daughter, with their wit and ^ood hu-
mour, contrived to make the hours glide away in-
sensibly ; I often talked with her of the many plea-
sant hours T passed with her brother, Mr. Darby,
at Leghorn, on my first arrival there.
She produced, in November, at Drury Lane,
a petite piece, entitled " Nobody ;" and I was sorry
to see it condemned after the third night, though
Bensley, Bannister, Barrymore, Miss Decamp, and
Mrs. Jordan, exerted their talents to support it.
On the 20th of November, Drury Lane Theatre
lost one of its greatest props in a particular walk of
the drama, in poor Baddely. On the evening before
his death, he was taken ill as he was dressing for the
character of Moses, in the " School for Scandal,"
which part was originally written for him. His
Canton, in the " Clandestine Marriage," will ever
be remembered with King's Lord Ogilby ; and in
" Jews and Frenchmen," he wasVery good. He was
a worthy man, although he was nick-named " Old
70 REMINISCENCES OF
Vinegar, 1 ' only from the excellent manner in which
he acted a character of that name in CTKeefe's farce
of " The Son-in-Law." In his younger days, he
had been a cook, and an excellent cook, to my
knowledge, he was, and moreover extremely proud
of his skill in the culinary art. He had been cook
to Foote, in whose service he imbibed a taste for the
drama. He married a celebrated beauty, Miss
Snow. He told me once, that when he was acting
at the Haymarket, of which Foote was the pro-
prietor, they had a quarrel, and Baddely challenged
him to fight with swords. On receiving the chal-
lenge, Foote said, " Hey ! what ! fight ! Oh !
the dog ! So I have taken the spit from my kitchen
fire, and stuck it by his side ; and now the fellow
wants to stick me with it."
In his will, he left a twelfth-cake and wine for the
performers of Drury Lane Theatre, of which they
partake every Twelfth-night, in the Green Room,
and drink to the memory of the donor. He had a
habit of smacking his lips always when speaking.
In allusion to this, Charles Bannister said to him
one day at the School of Garrick (when boasting of
his culinary qualifications), " My dear Baddely,
every body must know that you have been a cook,
for you always seem to be tasting your words."
He bequeathed his house and premises, at Upper
Moulsey, in Surrey, to Mrs. Baddely : and after her
MICHAEL KELLY. 71
death, these, and money arising from an annuity,
to the Theatrical Fund of Drury Lane Theatre .
the house, and premises belonging to it, at Moul-
sey, to be an asylum for decayed actors. The house
stands facing the Temple of Shakspeare, on Mr.
Garrick's Lawn, at Hampton. The trustees of the
fund, however, thought proper to sell it ; and it has
been purchased by, and is now in the possession of,
my friend, Mr. Savory, of Bond-street, at whose hos-
pitable table I have many times been a welcome
guest. In his parlour is an excellent likeness of
Baddely, in* the character of Moses, in "The
School for Scandal," painted by Zoffany ; and on a
part of the premises are the boards of the old Drury
Lane stage, on which the immortal Garrick displayed
his unrivalled powers. It seems no unnatural coin-
cidence, that the ci-devant cook's property should
hane found a savoury purchaser.
On the 20th of November, Cobb produced his
opera of " The Cherokee ;" the music by Storace.
The Cherokee chorus was one of the grandest ever
composed : the effect was sublime. Mrs. Crouch
acted very finely in it. Tom Welsh had a part
which he played very impressively : the scenery and
decorations were of the most splendid description. I
performed the character of an English officer in it ;
and had some good situations, and good songs. That
delightful warbler, Mrs. Bland, in the character of
72 REMINISCENCES OF
a Welsh peasant, sang that ballad, afterwards so
universally popular, " A little bird sang on a spray,"
with great simplicity and truth ; indeed, what did
ghe not sing well ? As far as her powers went, she
was perfect as an English ballad-singer. I remember
dining one day with those two great musicians, Haydn
and Pleyel, and requesting them to go to Drury
Lane, and hear a female singer ; saying, that in my
opinion no real judge of the art could find a single
blemish in her style or taste. They went to hear
Mrs. Bland, and told me, that my praise was not
at all exaggerated.
I have, at different times, composed a number of
songs for her, and may safely say, that she never
introduced a grace unseasonably, or one that was
not full of taste and meaning.
Mrs. Bland, when Miss Romanzini, first sang at
Hughes's Riding School, now the Circus, in St
jGeorge's Fields, in the spring of 1773 ; she then
travelled with Breslau ; and made her first appear-
ance at Drury Lane, the 24th of October, 1786, in
" Richard Cceur de Lion." Her sensible manner
of singing reminds me of an anecdote which Mozart
once told me of the Emperor Joseph the Second,
relative to himself: His Majesty, speaking of a
piece of music of Mozart's, said to him, " Mozart,
I like your music very much, but there are too many
notes in Madame Lange's song." " Sire," replied
MICHAEL KELLY. 73
the composer, " there are just as many notes in it
as there ought to be."
I feel much pleasure in recording here an anec-
dote, which must prove highly gratifying to a young
lady, now engaged at Drury Lane Theatre, as well
as to her friends. When Miss Wilson appeared at
J)rury Lane Theatre, in " Artaxerxes," Mr. Elliston
wished me to hear her, and give him my opinion of
her. I was, at the time, too ill with the gout, to
be able to attend the theatre. My old and valued
friend, Madame Mara, was then in London. I
wrote to her to call upon me, and requested her to
go and hear Miss Wilson, to give me her true and
candid opinion of her abilities, as I could not go
myself; and after the performance, to return to me,
and make her report ; which she did, and a favour-
able one it was. " But," said she, " I was at Drury
Lane, a few nights since, to see the pantomime ;
there was a little girl, who sang a ballad, fc Up,
Jack, and the day is your own ;' that girl, depend
upon what I tell you, has one of the finest voices I
ever heard ; and could I be induced to take a pupil,
to bring forward on the stage, that girl should be the
person of my choice." The young lady is Miss
Povey ; and proud may she be of having been so
mentioned by such a person as Madame Mara.
Yet, with all her great skill and knowledge of
.the world, Madame Mara was induced, by the
VOL. II. E
74 REMINISCENCES OF
advice of some of her mistaken friends, to give a
public concert at the King's Theatre, in her seventy-
second year, when, in the course of nature, her
powers had failed her. It was truly grievous to see
such transcendent talents as she once possessed, so
sunk so fallen. I used every effort in my power
to prevent her committing herself, but in vain.
Among other arguments to draw her from her pur-
pose, I told her what happened to Mombelli, one of
the first tenors of his day, who lost all his well-earned
reputation and fame, by rashly performing the part
of a lover, at the Pergola theatre, at Florence, in
his seventieth year, having totally lost his voice. On
the stage he was hissed ; and the following lines,
lampooning his attempt, were chalked on his house-
door, as well as upon the walls of the city :
" All' eta di settanta,
Non si AM A, nc si CANT A."
.
'
With the great age of seventy,
Singing and loving don't agree.
Would she had taken the sage counsel of the
Spanish poet, Balthazar Garcia, " Learn to retire
from public situations with dignity." She was an
MICHAEL KELLY. 75
excellent, kind-hearted woman ; but, in this instance,
certainly not well advised.
On the 24th was produced, at Drury, Cumber-
land's play of " The Wheel of Fortune." About
three weeks previous to the bringing out of this
play, I went into the prompter's room, and found
Kemble, who was going to dine with me, sealing up
a parcel. He said, " My dear Mic, wait a moment
until I send off this to Cumberland; it is a comedy
of his, which I write to tell him is accepted ; and,
if I am not greatly mistaken, there is a character in
it that will do something for me ; at least I feel
that I can do something with it. Mind, you and
Nancy (meaning Mrs. Crouch) must promise to see
me act it the first night.'" We accordingly did, and
were delighted ; and, ever after, considered Kemble,
Penruddock ; and Penruddock, Kemble : indeed,
the whole play was finely acted. Miss Farren's
Emily, Mrs. PowelPs Woodville, King's 'Governor
Tempest, R. Palmer's Sir David Daw, Palmer and
Charles Kemble, and, though last not least, Suetfs
Lawyer Weazle, were all excellent.
I remember well, after poor Suetfs death,
Kemble, in lamenting the event, saying to me,
" My dear Mic, Penruddock has lost a powerful
ally in Suett ; Sir, I have acted the part with many
Weazles, and good ones too, but none of them could
work up my passions to the pitch Suett did ; he
76 REMINISCENCES OF
had a comical impertinent way of thrusting his head
into my face, which called forth all my irritable
sensatinos ; the effect upon me was irresistible."
About the middle of May, an opera was acted
at Drury Lane, in which I had to perform an Irish
character. My friend Johnstone took great pains
to instruct me in the brogue, but I did not feel
quite up to the mark; and, after all, it seems my
vernacular phraseology was not the most perfect ;
for, when the opera was over, Sheridan came into
the green-room, and said, " Bravo ! Kelly ; very
well, indeed ; upon my honour, I never before
heard you speak such good English in all my life."
This sarcastic compliment produced much laughter
from the performers who heard him*.
This season Miss Mellon made her first appear-
ance. Mr. Sheridan had seen her the previous sea-
son at Stafford, where she was acting ; she was
* A similar criticism was made by the elder Colman, when
he went to Ireland, chiefly to see the actors of the Dublin thea-
tre. Among other plays, he saw there his own comedy of " The
Jealous Wife." On being questioned, by a friend, how he was
pleased with the acting of it, he replied, " Faith, I did not
well understand what they were saying; for every man and wo.
man in the play spoke with the most determined brogue, except
the gentleman that acted Captain O'Cntter (the only Irish cha-
racter in the piece) for he spoke the most pure and perfect
English, throughout the whole of the performance, without a
vestige of the brogue."
MICHAEL KELLY. 77
much patronised at that place by the leading fami-
lies, particularly by Mr. Horton, an intimate elec-
tioneering friend of Mr. Sheridan's. She was
engaged at Drury Lane, and proved herself a
valuable acquisition to our dramatic corps. She
was a handsome girl, and much esteemed ; and in
gratitude, I feel called upon to say, that, both as
Miss Mellon and Mrs. Con Us, I have received from
her the most marked and friendly attentions ; and
am happy to have it in my power, thus publicly,
to express my acknowledgments.
The same season, the votaries of true comic hu-
mour sustained an irreparable loss in the demise of
poor Parsons ; his "health had been rapidly declining,
but not his inimitable comic powers. On the even-
ing of the nineteenth of January, he played Sir
Fretful Plagiary, and died on the third of February.
The following epitaph was written on him by Mr.
Dibdin, Sen.
" Here Parsons lies ; oft, on Life's busy stage,
With Nature, reader, you have seen him vie;
He friendship knew knew science knew the age ;
Respected knew to live lamented, die !"
At Drury Lane Theatre, March 12, 179<>, was
j . i
the first representation of the Iron Chest," written
by my friend George Colman. The music, com-
posed by Storace, was, I believe, the cause of his
78 REMINISCENCES OF
premature and lamented death. On the first re-
hearsal, although labouring under a severe attack of
gout and fever, after having been confined to his
bed for many days, he insisted upon being wrapped
up in blankets, and carried in a sedan-chair to the
cold stage of the playhouse. The entreaties and
prayers of his family were of no avail, go he would ;
he went, and remained there to the end of the
rehearsal. The agony I suffered, during the time,
is beyond my power of description. He went home
to his bed, whence he never rose again. The last
twelve bars of music he ever wrote, were the subject
of the song (and a beautiful subject it is), " When
the robber his victim had noted;' 1 which I sang
in the character of Captain Armstrong. I called
upon him the night of the day in which he had
been at the rehearsal; he sent for me to his bed-
side, and pressing my hand, said, " My dear Mic,
I have tried to finish your song, but find myself
unable to accomplish it ; I must be ill, indeed,
when I can't write for you, who have given so much
energy to my compositions. I leave you the subject
of your song, and beg you will finish it yourself;
no one can do it better ; and my last request is, that
you will let no one else meddle with it." Saying
these words, he turned on his side, and fell into a
slumber; and never, never did I see him more !
His memory will for ever live in the hearts of all
MICHAEL KELLY. 79
who have heard his compositions ; for the drafts of
true genius, though they may not be honoured so
soon as they come due, are sure to be paid with
compound interest in the end : this is an old
maxim, and, I hope, a true one. He died March
the 16th, in the thirty-third year of his age. It is
a singular coincidence, that three such great musical
geniuses as Purcell, Mozart, and Storace, were
nearly of the same age when fate ordained them to
their early graves.
On the 30th of the same month, was first per-
formed, the opera of " Mahmoud," written by
Prince Hoare ; the music chiefly by Storace. Pre-
vious to the opera, the following lines were written,
at the short notice of a few hours only, by the au-
thor of the piece ; who, from his earliest days, was
the bosjm friend of the gifted composer, both in
Italy and in England.
" When vain is every anxious hope to save,
And genius sinks to an untimely grave !
The waken'd feelings of a generous mind,
A momentary void consent to find.
How difficult, alas! the task we try,
The blank with equal value to supply.
To-night we mourn a loved composer lost;
By all lamented, but by us the most.
Deprived, alas ! of that inspiring beam,
That touch'd the tuneful lyre with fleeting gleam ;
Yet what remains, and long, we trust, shall live,
We aim, with anxious industry, to give.
80 REMINISCENCES OF
Imperfect, if you view th' intended plan,
Accept it as we give, 'tis ail we can.
Faults will, no doubt, too evidently glare,
A i , i , '!il>
And Haply teach you our regrets to share.
But shall we humbly for compassion sne,
And lift our hands, for pity, up to you ? uO
fso ! Shall the gen'rous Briton, taught to bless
His deadliest foe, when prostrate in distress,
Await our voice, his pitying ear to call,
When native genius, native virtues fall ?
Oh ! be it still the honest Briton's boast,
To shield the flow'rets of his native coast ;
Unprompted, to protect their op'ning bloom,
And zealous guard them, scatter'd o'er the tuiv.
rr.1 , i P i /.
The whole of the profits arising from the ope^
were generously given, by the author, to Storace^s
widow and orphan.
All the performers took the greatest p.
justice to the posthumous work of the c
Kemble's acting, as the hero of the piece, v,;>
terly performance. The opera had a run of many
t i i i i i - T i i '
nights, and was much applauded ; it had the power-
ful* 'support of Mr. Braham, who made his .
-Tk T J
appearance in it at JJrury JLane, and saps; a hunting 1
11 i
cavatma, in a masterly style ; as well as a beautiiul
ballad!, " From shades of nio;ht !" with great truth
O1 'jjn. m WiTrJ.
of expression, and lovely simplicity, Mr. Braham
naur . , . , , J l -,
was received with the greatest applause. And xje-
f 1 1 **& U' *
serfedly so, for there is no such singer, when h^
T i i i r i v e f?- "
pleases ; he is, decidedly, the greatest vocalist of his
MICHAEL KELLY. 81
day ; and from a long professional intercourse with
him, I ever found him replete with liberality and
kindness, and ever ready to give his meed of ap-
plause to real merit.
On the 7th of April, Madame Banti took for her
benefit, at the Opera, Cluck's grand serious opera of
Alceste. Mr. Taylor, the then proprietor of the
Opera House, and Madame Banti, made a request
to Mr. Sheridan, to give me permission to act the
principal part in the opera, which I had so often
performed at Vienna, under the tuition of the great
composer. The knowledge of my having success-
fully performed it at that theatre, induced Madame
Banti to ask me to act it at the Haymarket. I got
permission, and the opera made so great a hit, that
Mr. Taylor, with the consent of Mr. Sheridan,
engaged me for twenty nights. Madame Banti^s
performance of Alceste was a chef-d'oeuvre ; her
acting sublime, her singing charming ; for twenty
nights the opera drew crowded houses. Banti pos-
sessed all the power of voice which she had when I
heard her first at Venice her figure was much im-
proved ; and, as a serious actress, she was unri-
valled. She had wonderful natural powers, but, as
I have already said, no great knowledge of music.
It was the fashion of the day for the subscribers
to the Opera to attend the rehearsals ; amongst
others, the late Duke of Queensberry was a constant
E5
82 HEMINISCENCES OF
attendant ; no weather kept him away there lie
was, on the stage, muff and all. I had the pleasure,
for many years, to be honoured with his peculiar
notice ; and have been frequently invited to his hos-
pitable table, both in Piccadilly, and at Richmond.
In my intercourse with mankind, I never met his
superior for worldly knowledge and acuteness ; he
was a nobleman of polished manners, of the vieillc
cour ; he had his foibles, it is true; but then, who
has not ? On Tuesdays and Saturdays, he had
generally a large dinner party of the French nobi-
lity, who were obliged to seek shelter in this coun-
try, from the horrors of the Revolution ; he was well
aware that a French lady or gentleman is an dtses-
poir 9 unless they can go to some spectacle ; and he
used the following delicate mode of indulging them
in their favourite amusjement, knowing that they
were too poor to indulge themselves, and too proud
to accept of pecuniary assistance.
'After coffee had been handed round, he used to
ask, " who is going to the Italian Opera to-night?
I long to use my family privilege. 1 ' I was present
one evening, when the Duchess de Pienne asked him
what this privilege meant ? He said, it was that of
writing admissions for the theatres to any amount he
pleased, without entailing any expense. This was
apparently a joyful hearing to the theatrical ama-
teurs, and nine of the party went that evening to the
MICHAEL KELLY. 83
Opera with his written admissions. He had pre-
viously made an arrangement with my worthy
friend, Mr. Jewell, the Opera House treasurer, and
also, as I understood, with other theatres, that his
orders were always to be admitted, and the next
morning sent to his steward, who had directions to
pay the amount of the admissions which his Grace
had sent in. This delicate manner of conferring a
favour needs no comment.
I never saw in any country such comfortable
dinners as those of his Grace ; at his sideboard
there was a person to carve every joint, and he
never had more than three dishes at a time on his
table ; but all were hot and comfortable, and the
viands the most recherche. Ilis chief French cook,
whom he denominated his officier de boucke, was a
great artist, a real cordon bleu, who ought to have
had, like Cardinal Wolsey's master-cook, a crimson
velvet dress, with a collar and a gold chain. His
wines too were of the most exquisite kind, for his
Grace was a votary of Bacchus as well as Venus.
He was passionately fond of music, and an ex-
cellent judge of the art ; but his being very blind,
and very deaf, were certainly somewhat against him.
A favourite propensity of his, was, that of giving
instructions in singing : he was kind enough to offer
Mrs. Billington and myself, to teach us the songs of
Polly and Macheath, in the Beggar's Opera ; and,
84 .REMINISCENCES OF
to humour him, we have often let him sing to us.
It was extremely amusing to all parties, one person
excepted, who always accompanied him on the
piano-forte, and who lived in the house with him
his name was Ireland ; but I always called him
Job.
His Grace asked me one day to dine with him,
tete-a-tete ; after dinner, he told me, he had formed
a resolution never to have more than one guest at &
time ; the reason he gave was, that he had grown
so deaf, that he could scarcely hear. " Had I"
said he, " at table more than one person now, they
would be talking one to the other, and I sitting by,
not able to hear what they were talking about,
which would be extremely provoking ; now, if I
have but one to dine with me, that one must either
talk to me, or hold his tongue."
This season the Opera House was very attractive.
I was stage manager ; Viotti, the celebrated violin
player, was leader of the orchestra, and a masterly
leader he was. He asked me one day to dine with
him at the Crown and Anchor, in the Strand, to
meet three friends of his, who formed an economical
little dinner-club, which they held there once a
month. I went, and found his friends three of the
greatest revolutionists : Charles Laraeth, who had
been President of the National Assembly ; Dupoefc,
the popular orator of that time, also a Member of
MICHAEL KELLY. 85
the National Assembly, and who was the very
person whom I had seen offer to hand the poor
Queen of France out of her carriage, when brought
prisoner back from Yarennes, which she indignantly
refused; and the Duke D'Aiguillon, one of the
twelve Peers of France, who, in former days, had
an immense fortune, was a great patron of the arts,
and so theatrical, that he had a box in every theatre
in Paris. He was particularly fond of music, and
had been a scholar of Viotti. I passed a pleasant
day with these emigres, who were all men of high
endowments, and truly polished manners ; nor did
they seem at all depressed by change of : ckoirai-
stances, all was vivacity and good humour.
The Duke sat next to me at dinner. I asked
him if he had seen Drury Lane Theatre ; his reply
was, I have seen the outside of it, but I am now
too poor to go to theatres ; for did I indulge in my
favourite amusement, I should not be enabled to
have the pleasure of meeting you and my worthy
friends at dinner to-day I cannot afford both.
I told him, that as manager of the Opera House,
and musical director of Drury Lane Theatre, I
should have great pleasure in giving him and his
friends admissions nightly, for either of those thea-
tres ; and that my box at the Opera House was at
their service on the following Saturday, and I re-
quested they would do me the honour to dine with
86 REMINISCENCES OF
me on that day, and afterwards visit it. They
favoured me with their company, and much de-
lighted they were : often and often afterwards did
they dine and sup with me. I introduced them to
Mr. Sheridan, and many of my friends. It was
certainly, I thought, to be lamented, that men pos-
sessing such amiable manners, should, from strong
republican principles, bring themselves into mis-
fortune ; but I had nothing to do with their politics :
I only saw the bright side of their characters, and
felt a sincere pleasure, as far as lay in my power, in
administering, in my little way, comfort to those
who were labouring under so sad a reverse of
fortune ; for, in this country, the French noblesse
would not associate with them. Even the Duke
D'Aiguillon, though one of the highest noblemen of
France, was never received by the Duke of Queens-
berry, nor did he visit any where.
One morning he called on me, and said he had a
favour to beg of me. I requested him to command
my services : he said, " My dear Kelly, I am under
many obligations for your repeated acts of kindness
and hospitality to me and my friends ; but still,
though under a cloud, and labouring under mis-
fortunes, I cannot forget that I am the Duke
D'Aiguillon, and cannot stoop to borrow or beg
from mortal; but I confess I am nearly reduced
to my last shilling, yet still I retain my health and
MICHAEL KELLY. 87
spirits ; formerly, when I was a great amateur, I
was particularly partial to copying music, it was
then a source of amusement to me. Now, my good
friend, the favour I am about to ask, is, that, siib
rasa, you will get me music to copy for your thea-
tres, upon the same terms as you would give to any
common copyist, who was a stranger to you. I am
now used to privation*, my wants are few ; though
accustomed to palaces, I can content myself with a
single bed-room up two pair of stairs ; and if you
will grant my request, you will enable me to possess
the high gratification of earning my morsel by the
work of my hands."
I was moved almost to tears, by the application,
and was at a loss what to answer, but thought of
what Lear says,
" Take physic, pomp !"
and " to what man may be reduced/ 1 I told him
I thought I could procure him as much copying as
he could do, and he appeared quite delighted ; and
the next day I procured plenty for him. He rose
by day-light to accomplish his taskwas at work
all day and at night, full dressed, in the Opera
House in the pit. While there, he felt himself
Duke D'Aiguillon ; and no one ever suspected him
to be a drudge in the morning, copying music for a
shilling per sheet ; and strange to say, that his
spirits never drooped : nine Englishmen out of ten.
88 REMINISCENCES OF
under such circumstances, would have destroyed
themselves: but the transitory peace of mind he
enjoyed was not of long duration ; an order came
from the Alien Office for him arid his friends to
leave England in two days; they took an affec-
tionate leave of me : the Duke went to Hamburgh,
and there was condemned to be shot. They told
me that he died like a hero.
He had a favourite Danish dog, a beautiful
animal, which he consigned to my protection, until,
as he told me, he had an opportunity to send for
him with safety. I pledged myself to take every
care of him, and never shall I forget his parting
with this faithful animal ; it seemed as if the last
link which held him to society was breaking ; the
dog had been the faithful companion of his pros-
perity his adversity ; he caressed, and shed a flood
of tears on quitting it the scene was grievous ; but
I did not then think that I should never see the
Duke more. I took every care of his poor dog
who, missing his kind master, after a little, refused
all nourishment, and actually pined, and died.
Yet he survived the being who had fed and che-
rished him.
On May 6th, 1796, Mr. Bensley, whom I am
proud to have called my friend, took leave of the
stage on his own benefit night, in the character of
Evander, in the " Grecian Daughter :" he was a
MICHAEL KELLY. 89
good actor, and a perfect gentleman. In his
younger days, he had been in the army, and I was
told had been at the Havannah. I have seen him
often, with great pleasure, act Prospero in the
Tempest, and lago and Pierre: his Malvolio, in
Twelfth Night, was considered a fine performance.
He had a manner of rolling his eyes when speaking;
and a habit, whenever he entered the green-room,
of stirring the fire with great ceremony, secundum
artem, in which habit, I was in the habit of imi-
tating him ; he caught me once in the very fact, and
joined heartily in the laugh against himself.
I remember there was a tragedy brought out
at Drury Lane, written by a hatter, which was
completely condemned: towards the end of the
play, Palmer and Bensley had in their characters
to die upon the stage ; a torrent of hisses accom-
panied their latter moments, and the curtain fell in
the midst of the tumult. When the play was ov
Palmer and Bensley came into the green-roorn ;
and Palmer said to Bensley, " You see, Benfeley,
the audience have settled * The Hatters/ " " So I
perceive," answered Bensley; "and they did not
spare the dyers?
On Mr. Bensley's quitting the stage, he was ap-
pointed barrack-master; and subsequently, a near
relation of his, Sir William Bensley, Bart, died,
and left him a very large fortune ; he then retired
90 REMINISCENCES OF
to Stanmore, where he died, regretted and respected
by all who bad the pleasure of knowing him.
My friend Elliston, (of whom Mrs. Crouch, it
will be remembered, prognosticated at York, that he
would one day become a distinguished actor,) made
his debut at the Haymarket, on the 25th June,
1796, in Octavian, in " The Mountaineers," and
Vapour, in " My Grandmother." His admirable
voice and excellent acting in both characters, stamped
him, at once, a favourite, which ^he continues to this
day ; I need hardly say, how very deservedly so.
The same season, Thalia lost one of her most
powerful supporters, by the demise of Mr. Dodd.
He was an actor of the good old school. On my
first appearance atDrury Lane, he performed the part
of Jessamy, in <f Lionel and Clarissa;" and although
then bordering on his sixtieth year, I never saw it so
admirably represented ; indeed, all his fops were ex-
cellent, particularly Lord Foppington, and Sparkish,
in the " Country Girl." I have often seen him,
with infinite pleasure, in Sir Andrew Ague Cheek,
Abel Drugger, and Old Kecksey, in the " Irish
Widow." He was an entertaining companion, very
fond of convivial meetings ; he knew a vast number
of comic songs, and was renomme for recounting
good stories, although it must be confessed they
were somewhat of the longest. He was a constant
attendant of the Anacreontic Society, held at the
MICHAEL KELLY. 91
Crown and Anchor, in the Strand, which was
admirably conducted by a set of bankers and
merchants. They had a good concert in the early
part of the evening, by a most excellent band, led
by Cramer; after which, the company retired to
the large room, where supper was provided. The
principal vocal performers of the day were to be
found there. Old Charles Bannister, after supper,
uniformly sang, with powerful effect, " Anacreon
in Heaven, 1 ' which was there originally sung by
Webster. There were the best catches and glees,
sung by Webbe, Danby, Dignum, Hobbs, Sedgwick,
Suett, &c. relieved by some famous songs of DoddY
I passed many delightful evenings in this society,
and was extremely sorry when it was discontinued.
I deeply regretted the death of my poor friend
Dodd, and with true sorrow followed his remains to
the grave. He was one of the original members of
the School of Garrick, and always spoke of his
great master with the highest veneration and respect.
In the early part of this summer, I went to
Dover Castle, on a visit to my worthy and esteemed
friend, the Honourable Colonel North, who was
then Deputy Governor. I passed three days de-
lightfully in his endearing society. The coast of
France is very distinctly seen from the windows in
clear weather.
One very fine morning, I was seated at a little
92 REMINISCENCES OF
distance from the Castle, looking at the opposite
shore, and took my pencil and a little music book
(which I always carried about me, to put clown
any musical idea that might strike me,) from my
pocket : a subject I thought pretty came across me,
and I was writing it in the book, when one of the
soldiers belonging to the Castle came behind me,
and without the smallest ceremony, laid hold of me,
saying, in a tremendous Tipperary brogue, " Ah,
my tight fellow, have I caught you in the fact ?
Och, Mr. Mounsieur, how got you here. Sir?"
I began to laugh, but the Tipperary man of war
said, " By the powers ! I'll teach you to laugh out
of t'other side of your mouth, my fine fellow, in a
minute or two."
I asked what my offence was ?
" What," said he, " have I not caught you
taking views of the fortifications ? you seem mighty
fond of looking at it, but, please the pigs, you don't
get out of the black hole in it, in a little time ;" and,
with all his might, he proceeded to surround rnc,
and drag me to the donjon keep, accompanying
each lusty pull with a volley of abuse.
Luckily for me, before we got a great way on the
road to durance vile, we met Colonel North, who,
much to my delight, released me from the gripe of
Old Tipperary, and his military ardour. lie
laughed heartily at my adventure; but told me that
MICHAEL KELLY. 93
the soldier had done no more than his duty. " And
you ought to have known that, Kelly,"" said the
Colonel. " Making notes is a sure way of getting
into a scrape ; and you should have bargained for
the bars before you began."
The next day, we went to his brother's, the Earl of
Guilford's seat, at Waldershare, where we remained
two days, and then returned to London. I then
accompanied Mrs. Crouch to Cheltenham, where
she had been ordered to drink the waters. Our
excellent friend, the Colonel, promised to meet us
there; and, punctual to his word, was there before
us. We agreed, during our stay at this delightful
place, to take a house together, and we were for-
tunate enough to get a beautiful cottage, in the
midst of corn-fields, then called Wyatt's Cottage ;
there, indeed, I enjoyed his delightful society ; for
in repartee and ready wit, who was his equal ?
The Colonel was stinted by his medical adviser,
while drinking the Cheltenham waters, not to
exceed one pint of wine a day ; he promised not to
exceed his pint, nor did he; but it was a Scotch
pint; six of claret or port, which was his daily
portion; white wine, at dinner, he said, went for
nothing, though he flirted with the best part of a
bottle of old Madeira every day.
Here I had the pleasure of meeting an old friend
of my father's, my eccentric countryman, the Earl
94 REMINISCENCES OF
of Howth, whose skill in coachmanship was so cele-
brated. The very apex of his ambition the pride
of his heart was, not only to be thought a coach-
manlike Lord, but actually a coachman ; his wig
his coat every part of his dress was a coachman's ;
and in his conversation, he imitated the slang of the
fraternity : but his actions, and manner of thinking,
were those of a perfect gentleman ; he was upright,
good-natured, and honourable. He rarely visited
his beautiful place, near Dublin. He resided, in
the winter, chiefly at Bath; and, in the summer,
at Cheltenham, with his daughters, the Ladies St.
Lawrence, and a particular friend of theirs, a Miss
Georges, a lady of polished manners and education,
respected by all who had the good fortune to be
acquainted with her.
The theatre at Cheltenham was, at that time,
under the management of its proprietor, the eccen-
tric Watson, who was a fellow of infinite jest and
humour ; full of Thespian anecdotes, and perfectly
master of the art of driving away loathed melancholy.
Many a hearty laugh have I had with him :
he was an Irishman, and had, although I say it
w r ho should not say it, all the natural wit of
his country about him. He was of a very respec-
table family (Quakers) in Clonmell. In John
Kemble's younger days, he was a near ally of his,
and both belonged to a strolling company. They
MICHAEL KELLY. 95
lived, or rather, by Watson's account, starved
together. At one time*, in Gloucestershire, they
were left pennyless ; and after continued vicissi-
tudes, Watson assured me, such was their distress,
that at that time they were glad to get into a turnip
field, and make a meal of its produce uncooked ;
and, he added, it was while regaling on the raw
vegetable, that they hit upon a scheme to recruit
their finances; and a lucky turn-up it turned out.
It was neither more nor less than that John Keuible
should turn methodist preacher, and Watson per-
form the part of clerk.
Their scheme was organized ; and Tewkesburv
was their first scene of action. They drew together,
in a field, a numerous congregation ; and Kemble
preached with such piety, and so much effect, that,
positively, a large collection rewarded his labours.
This anecdote, Kemble himself told me was per-
fectly true.
Watson had brought together, at Cheltenham,
a respectable dramatic corps; he wished Mrs.
Crouch and myself to perform for a limited num-
ber of nights, and offered us a clear half of the
receipts of the house, every night, and each of
us a clear benefit; but as we were there for the
benefit of health, I refused his liberal terms.
Lord Howth, however, called on me, one day,
and said, "My dear Kelly, every body is wishing
2
96 HEMIXISCENCES OF
you would perform here for a few nights ; you
will get a good deal of money ; and, in the name
of fortune, why not pick up your crumbs; sure,
it will be only just an amusement to you ; the house
will always be full, and I will let the boxes for you
myself."
Such a good-natured offer was too tempting
to be refused, and we agreed with Watson for
six nights. We played to overflowing houses,
and the noble box-keeper* fulfilled his part of the
contract ; for on the morning of the first perform-
ance, while the company were assembled in the
Spa-room, after paying their devoirs to Mrs. Forty,
there was his Lordship with the box-book in his
hand, saying to one, " Now, my lady, remember
you have got the stage-box ; as for the Countess,
she can only have a second and third row ;" and
so on. Nothing could exceed the warmth of his
Lordship's heart, although he was so eccentric ; he
even left his coach-box, to let boxes for me.
I went one morning into a poulterer's shop,
and found the Noble Earl buying some poultry.
I ordered the poulterer to send rue home a fine
goose, wished his Lordship good morning, and
was walking homeward at a quick pace, when I
heard my name hallooed out; and turning round
to see who was calling me, I saw his Lordship
in the middle of the High Street ; his Lordship
MICHAEL KELLY. 97
shouting out, with a determined Irish accent,
" Kelly ! Kelly !* I say, Kelly ! Corn your goose !
corn your goose ! I tell you, now do, Kelly, corn
him ! keep him in salt four days, and then boil
him with a whisp of white cabbage; and, by
the Powers, he'll be mighty fine eating." I took
his Lordship's advice, and found it a delicious
dish.
One day I was saying to him, that I had a very
bad sore throat ; he told me he had a never-failing
recipe for a sore throat. His directions were,
just before going to bed, to get scalding water,
and the finest double-refined sugar, with two juicy
lemons, and above all, some good old Jamaica rum ;
and when in bed, to take a good joriim of it,
as hot as bearable.
" Why, my Lord," said I, " your prescription
seems to me to be nothing more than punch."
" And what is better for a sore throat than good
punch ?" said his Lordship ; u good punch at night,
and copious gargles of old Port by day, would
cure any mortal disease in life."
I passed some pleasant weeks at Cheltenham ;
and, among other agreeable recollections, it is not
the least to think, that I there formed an acquaint-
ance with my excellent friend, Mr. Savory, now a
celebrated chemist, in Bond-street, who, at that
time, was under Mr. Cotter, the principal apothe-
VOL. II. F
98 REMINISCENCES OF
cary and chemist at Cheltenham. I also had the
advantage of originating a friendship with that
great and worthy man, and friend to the human
race, Dr. Jenner, who often did me the honour
to take his dinner with me ; he wrote a very
excellent Bacchanalian song, for which I com-
posed the music.
When I was about leaving Cheltenham, I was
lamenting to the Doctor the loss of the Spa waters,
which had done Mrs. Crouch and myself so much
essential service; he told me, under an injunction
of secrecy, (which I never violated during his life-
time,) that I had no cause to regret the loss of the
waters ; " for, depend upon it," said he, " the
Cheltenham salts, which you can procure of Mr.
Patheyrus, chemist, in Bond-street, and of him
alone, are to the full as efficacious, and conducive to
health, as the water from the well. This,"" con-
cluded the excellent man, " is the candid opinion I
give you. I should not wish to promulgate it, as it
might prejudice many industrious people, by keep-
ing company from the Spa, which I should be sorry
should be the case."
I repeat this opinion for the information of those
who have it not in their power to go to the Chel-
tenham Spa, either from want of time, or the means
of accomplishing the journey there.
I associated with many Irish families who came
MICHAEL KELLY. 99
to drink the waters, and had the pleasure of being
introduced, by Colonel North, to Mr. Coutts, as
his most particular friend. The introduction was
very flattering to me ; and I had the pleasure, for
many years, to be kindly remembered, and favoured
by the notice and attentions of one, who was ever a
liberal patron of the arts and sciences, and of those
who professed them.
I went to London, to meet Mr. Taylor, of the
Opera House ; but Mrs. Crouch remained at Chel-
tenham. Mr. Taylor wished to submit to His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (who was
then at Brighton), for His Royal Highness's appro-
bation, a plan of alterations in the Opera House,
for the ensuing season, and wished me to go down
to Brighton with it, which I did. The day after I
arrived there, I was honoured with an audience at
the Pavilion, to which I was introduced by my kind
friend and countryman, Colonel M'Mahon.
I found, as I always had the good fortune to do,
His Royal Highness every thing gracious, kind,
and condescending ; a Prince who needs but to be
known to be beloved and respected, for the rich
variety of his talents, attainments, and knowledge,
which seem to belong to every age and to every
country.
After a week^s delightful sojourn at Brighton,
I returned to London ; and the following day took
100 REMINISCENCES OF
my seat upon the Cheltenham coach, to join Mrs.
Crouch, who was waiting at Cheltenham till I
returned to accompany her to London. I was full
of life and spirits, and found some pleasant com-
panions on the roof of the carriage ; and laugh,
fun, and hoaxing, were the order of the day ; for
although the latter word is of more modern origin,
still the meaning was the same, and the joke as
winning.
About twelve miles from Cheltenham, near
Northleach, a man (a native of the latter place) on
the coach-box, said that the two men walking before
us up the hill, were the gaoler of Northleach, and a
man in his custody for debt. When we overtook
them, the coach was moving at a very slow pace,
and I could not resist the allurement of a quotation ;
a trick I was ever prone to indulge in, w r hen it came
in my way. Hallooing out aloud, and imitating,
and my face looking like old MacklhVs, in " The
Merchant of Venice, 1 ' I quoted Shylock's speech to
the astonished Northleach prison-keeper :
I do wonder,
Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond to come abroad
with him, at his request."
" And what is that to you ?" quoth the gaoler,
(with a face as red as a turkey-cock). " What
business is it of yours, to ask me what I do ? If I
MICHAEL KELLY. 101
had you down here, I'd break' every bone in your
body."
I should have been sorry to be within his reach,
for the varlet was tall, and had a striking appear-
ance ; however, the coachman relieved me from his
threats, by quickening his pace, laughing, as well as
the passengers, while the infuriated gaoler was giving
me a volley of abuse: however, to say truth, I
deserved it for- my impudence.
I passed some very pleasant days at Plymouth,
and received many marked attentions from Mr.
Hawker, an English gentleman who was Dutch
Consul. He took me to see the French prisoners
confined in Mill Prison; it was astonishing to
witness the apparent gaiety of their minds, and the
perfect happiness with which they were enjoying
themselves at all kinds of games and gambols ; but
the ingenuity of some was beyond my conception.
They made toys of all descriptions, and sold them
to the visitors of the prison. I bought from a
French lieutenant the model of a ship, of his own
making, completely rigged the workmanship was
admirably good. Amongst other things which I
saw there, was a trait of French honesty which
amused me extremely.
A fellow who was locked up, had a large bench
in front of the place where he was confined, on
which were several articles for sale ; an old man,
102 ' BEMINISCENCES CXF
who could speak a little English, stood by the side 1
of them, and kept bawling out to all the passers-by:
" Come here, Monsieur le Capitaine, look here,
my pretty things Monsieur le Capitaine, come buy
de pretty things for Madame.'" 1
I went up to him, and wished to purchase a
handsome writing desk, for which the spokesman
asked four guineas. I refused to give so much, but
offered him one ; the owner (who was locked up)
in speaking to the salesman in French, told him
to insist upon four guineas, adding, "I am sure
you will get it ; Monsieur le Capitaine, there, looks
very like a simpleton."
I replied, that I would give no more than the
guinea; and also speaking to him in French,
which he had no notion I understood, told him that,
simpleton as I was, I could purchase just such
another writing desk for a louis d'or in Paris, either
in the Palais Royal or on the Boulevards.
He made me a low bow, and said, smiling, " Ma
foi, Monsieur, vous avez de Fesprit et pour c,a
for that, you shall have the desk for one guinea."
I gave him the money, with a few complimentary
observations upon his honesty and good manners.
Having seen all I wished to see, I went to Ply-
mouth Dock, with an intention of going into Corn-
wall. On alighting from the chaise, I strolled about
while dinner was preparing, gaping around me. I
MICHAEL KELLY. 103
found a gate open, and walked into a large yard, and
seeing a person there, asked him the name of the
place ?
" What r said the man, " Don't you know?"
I told him that I did not, but having seen -a
large gate open, I had walked in.
" Then, my good fellow," said the man, " take
my advice, and walk out as fast as you can ; for
if you are found examining the Dock Yard without
permission, you will be forthwith lodged in the
Mill Prison, whence you will not find it a very easy
thing to get away. 1 '
I thanked my honest friend for his kind intelli-
gence, and with a hop, step, and jump, was outside
the gates of the Dock Yard in two minutes. I was
afterwards informed, that I really had a narrow
escape, for, as we were then at war, no stranger was
allowed to enter without a special order from the
Commissioner.
I was very often at Mount Edgecumbe, where,
at that time, the Somerset Militia were encamped.
I had an invitation from the late Lord Cork, to dine
with him at the mess, which I accepted, and that,
indeed, was the place where I first met my kind
friend, Sir Charles Bampfylde. From that day,
until the period of his lamented death, I was fa-
voured with his friendship. There dined at the
mess that day, a young gentleman, a lieutenant in
104 REMINISCENCES OF
the navy, brother to a noble lord, who drank a
great deal of wine, and subsequently accompanied
me on my return to Dock, in the public passage
boat. In the boat were some workmen of the Dock
Yard, all of whom had an inveterate aversion to
the officers of the navy, so much so, that desperate
quarrels frequently occurred between them. My
companion was excessively noisy and troublesome,
abusing the people of Dock in the grossest and most
unqualified terms. I was doing all in my power to
persuade him to " moderate the rancour of his
tongue,*" but in vain ; when he was half seas over,
he became more and more violent in his vituperation
of the Dockites.
When we got on shore, and were walking up the
hill, some half-dozen of our hard-fisted nautical
companions fell upon us. I was pummelled about
like a shuttle-cock, knocked down, and left senseless
on the ground ; while my companion, who was the
sole occasion of my being so cruelly mauled, appre-
hensive, I conclude, of the anger of some strict
disciplinarian in command, made all sail from the
scene of action, and left me at the mercy of the
cowardly ruffians ; for I was fool enough to
stand my ground, as long as I was able the
fruits of which vain resistance were, that I was
carried to my hotel senseless, and confined to my
bed for six weeks, attended by two medical men.
MICHAEL KELLY. 105
Independently of the drubbing with which they
favoured me, I was the loser of 500?. which, like
Father Foigard, in the "Beaux Stratagem," I
intended to get ; for I had engagements in Liver-
pool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Dublin, all of
which I was obliged to relinquish in consequence ;
so that I had good reason to remember Dock.
Three years after this mishap, however, I ven-
tured again to visit Plymouth. Mrs. Crouch and
myself were then engaged to perform at the theatre.
Mr. Foote, the father of the lovely Miss Foote, of
Covent Garden Theatre, was then manager of Ply-
mouth Theatre ; and Mr. Hughes, one of the pro-
prietors of Sadler's Wells, manager of the theatre at
Dock. With him, Mrs. Crouch and myself entered
into an engagement, when we had finished at
Plymouth, to perform a fortnight at Dock. The
theatre was crowded every night we played. One
evening, in " No Song, no Supper," Mrs. Crouch,
who acted Margaretta, introduced a pretty ballad,
which Dr. Arnold had composed for Miss Leak, at
the Haymarket, entitled, " The Poor Little Gip-
sey." Mrs. Crouch sang it delightfully, and it was
every where a great favourite. While she was
singing the line, " Spare a poor little gipsey a half-
penny," a jolly tar hallooed from the pit, " That I
will, my darling !" and threw a shilling on the stage.
106 REMINISCENCES OP
The liberality of honest Jack produced a roar of
laughter from the audience.
On our way to Plymouth, we passed a few very
agreeable days at Bath, with my old friend and
master, Rauzzini, who was the original adviser of
the measure of sending me to Italy. Every thing
at Pyramid (the name of his residence) breathed
content and happiness ; professional people, of ail
descriptions, were welcome to hi^ hospitable table,,
which was always supplied with the best viands, and
choicest wines.
While we were staying with him, Madame Mara
and Signora Storace were also his inmates, and every
evening we had music of the best sort ; Rauzzini
himself presiding at the piano-forte, and singing
occasionally. He had lost the soprano part of his
voice, but his lower contra alto tones were very fine,
and his taste was exquisite ; he was also a delightful
composer. It had been generally asserted and
believed, that when he was engaged at the King^s
Theatre as first soprano singer, most of the popular
songs which he sang in Sacchini"s operas were com-
posed by himself, although the credit of them was
given to Sacchini ; but upon a severe quarrel be-
tween them, Rauzzini, in a paper war, actually
avowed himself the author of them, and accused
Sacchini of the greatest ingratitude*
MICHAEL KELLY. 107
He retired to Bath, where he undertook to con-
duct the concerts, and continued to reside for many
years, beloved and respected by the inhabitants and
visitors of that city. He had a great deal of teaching,
which, added to the profits of his performances,
enabled him to entertain his friends in the hospitable
manner he did. The expenses of those perform-
ances were to him comparatively small, as it was
almost an article of faith amongst the profession to
give their services gratis on such occasions. I have
known Mrs. Billington renounce many profitable
engagements in London, when Rauzzini has required
the aid of her talents ; and at her own expense, travel
to Bath, and back to London, as fast as four horses
could carry her, without accepting the most trifling
remuneration. The singers engaged at the King's
Theatre were always allowed by the proprietors to
give him their gratuitous assistance.
Braham was his favourite scholar, and invariably
made a point of attending; no pecuniary advan-
tages derivable from any other source, ever induced
him to relinquish the opportunity of serving his old
master to the day of his death, a kindness which
Rauzzini always spoke of in terms of the highest
gratitude. Happy have I ever been to join in such
praises, having always found Braham, from his first
appearance at Drury Lane Theatre to the present
moment, liberal and kind towards me, personally,
108 REMINISCENCES OF
and ever ready to give his support and approbation
to merit wherever he found it. Aware, as he must
be, of his own superior talent, he is above envy,
and possesses professionally, and in every other sense
of the words, a clear understanding, sound sense,
and accurate judgment.
After a week's sojourn at Bath, Mrs. Crouch and
I took our departure for Plymouth. At Exeter we
spent a pleasant day and night, though it was in the
church-yard, where our hotel (one of the best in
tli at city) was situated. I went to the cathedral,
and heard a beautiful anthem of Jackson's finely
sung ; he himself was at the organ. I went up to
the organ-loft, and introduced myself to him ; he
did me the favour to call at my hotel, and spend the
evening with me. He was a man of great taste
and musical research, but very eccentric. His me-
lodies were pure and natural, and some of his madri-
gals and anthems will live for ever, to the credit of
he English school. He was a great friend of the
late Mr. Linley, who largely partook of his style
and genius.
We arrived at Plymouth, and put up at the Pope^s
Head. The theatre was then opened, under the ma-
nagement of Mr. Jefferson, a good kind of man, who
had formerly acted inferior parts with Mr. Garrick
at Drury Lane, and was thought very like him.
His eye was very expressive, and he was excessively.
MICHAEL KELLY. 109
proud to be considered like the great actor, of whom
he spoke with enthusiasm. He was a martyr to
gout, but a most entertaining man, and replete with
anecdotes, which he told with peculiar humour.
Before he became proprietor of the Plymouth
theatre, he was manager of a strolling company of
comedians, who acted on shares. When they were
at Penzance, in Cornwall, performing in a barn,
and miserably off for audiences, a French dancer,
of the name of La Croix, who had come from St.
Malo's, to seek his fortune in Plymouth, finding the
theatre there shut, and hearing of Monsieur Jef-
ferson's company at Penzance, formed a resolution
to pack up his very " little all," and chasse on foot
to join them.
When he arrived at Penzance, he waited upon
Mr. Jefferson, offered his services, and said, that he
had no doubt he should draw crowded houses by
the excellence of his performance ; for Monsieur La
Croix, in his own opinion, was " Le Dieu de la
danse." He was accordingly enrolled in the com-
pany on the usual terms, that is to say, that all
should share and share alike. He made his ap-
pearance in a fine pas seul ; but, unluckily, in one-
of his most graceful pirouettes, a very important
part of his drapery, either from its age or slightness,
or from the wonderful exertion of its wearer, became
suddenly rent in a most unmendable manner. Shouts
110 REMINISCENCES OF
of laughter and applause followed, which Monsieur
LaCroix imagined were given for his jumping; nor
was the supposition at all unjustifiable, for the
higher he jumped, the more he was applauded. .At
last some one behind the scenes called him off the
stage ; and he was so shocked at the mishap which
had befallen him, that he could never be induced
to appear again. But, in the sequel, when he came
to receive the recompence of his exertions and ex-
posure, the salvo for his shame amounted only to a
few bits of candle ends, which he would not accept ;
he said, he was a French artiste, and not a Russian,
and therefore could not be expected to live on can"
dies ; and that Monsieur Jeff (as he called the ma-
nager) had imposed upon him with false pretences.
The poor fellow made his way to Totness, where,
as I heard, he got some scholars; but nothing
would induce him to hear Mr. Jeff, or his tallow
provender, ever spoken of again.
After dinner, Mrs. Crouch and I went to the
theatre ; it was Mrs. Clendining's benefit ; the play,
Inkle and Yarico, and the house very full : Mrs.
Clendining acted Yarico. She, at that time, be-
longed to the Covent Garden company, and had a
very good voice, and was a favourite with the town,
in spite of a most implacable Irish brogue. The
opera, on the whole, was well performed : Trueman,
afterwards engaged at Drury Lane, was the vocal
MICHAEL KELLY. Ill
hero of the company ; and the band, for a provincial
theatre, was really respectable.
Many years afterwards, I was introduced to the
late Mr. John Emery, the truly great comedian of
Covent Garden Theatre, who told me that I had
once caused him much alarm by having been present
at the Plymouth theatre, where he was leader of the
band. I found this highly-gifted actor a very fine
musician, as well as a delightful artist. I have
some marine pieces of his that are, in my opinion,
admirable.
On my return to town, I went to spend a few
days with my friend George Column, at his beauti-
ful cottage, called " Mountains ;" there I again met
Colonel North, and Mr. Frederick Walsh, of the
Custom House. At that time Mr. Dowton, the
comedian, was acting at Tonbridge Wells, with his
mother-in-law, the eccentric Mrs. Baker, who was
proprietress of that theatre. Mr. Colman wrote to
Mr. Cumberland to say, that on the following day
we should be at Tonbridge Wells (nine miles from
Mountains) for the purpose of seeing Mr. Dowton
act ; and requested him to choose the character in
which he should like us to see him.
Mr. Cumberland selected Sheva, in his own
play of " The Jew ;" and a part in the farce called
" Hunt the Slipper." We were all delighted with
Dowton's performance, particularly the Jew, which
KEMINISCENCES OF
was a very fine specimen of natural acting. I was
so struck with it, that I called out to a gentleman,
with whom I was acquainted, who was sitting within
three boxes of our party, " This is fine acting :
this, Til answer for it, will do. 1 ' My prognosti-
cation, it seems, was so loudly expressed, that, as
Dowton afterwards told me, he heard it on the
stage.
On my return to town, I told Mr. Sheridan what
I thought of Dowton ; and my opinion being cor-
roborated by George Colman, Dowton had an im-
mediate offer to join the Drury Lane company,
which he accepted, and made his first appearance
in the same character of Sheva, on the 10th of
October, 1796; his success was perfect, and he has
continued, to this day, a brilliant ornament of his
profession.
Mr. Sheridan, whose praise in theatrical matters
was fame, often told me, that he thought Dowton
a sterling actor; andtthat if he ever wrote a comedy,
the two performers for whom he should take most
pains, would be Dowton and Jack Johnstone would
that he had kept his promise !
Dowton, whom I have proved to be one of the
kindest and besUhearted men in existence, was for-
merly very passionate ; and when he believed him-
self right, nothing could move him from his point.
On one occasion, he thought himself slighted, and in
MICHAEL KELLY. 113
a huff, quitted his situation, and retired to the house
of his old friend, Mr. Lee, of Bexley, a worthy, kind
man, whose hospitality is proverbial in the county
of Kent.
Mr. Sheridan was very sorry to lose so excellent
an actor, and wrote to him to return, but all in
vain. I went down to Mr. Lee's house, at Mr.
Sheridan's request, to see what / could do, and
stopped there two days ; but Dowton was inexor-
able, although every thing he desired would have
been granted.
When I returned to town, and told Mr. Sheridan
of the failure of my mission, he said to me, " I
compare Dowton to a spoiled child at school, who
first cries for bread and butter that is given him ;
when he has got that, he must have brown sugar
put upon it it is sugared for him ; after that, he
is not contented till he has glass windows cut out
upon it." However, without having the bread,
butter, brown sugar, or glass windows, by the in-
terference of his staunch friend, Cumberland, and
the advice of his equally staunch friend, Mr. Lee,
he returned to his situation ; and Sheridan, on the
occasion, ordered the revival of two comedies for
him, The Good-natured Man, 11 and " The Cho-
leric Man," but (as may be anticipated by those
who knew Mr. Sheridan) neither of them, was ever
revived.
REMINISCENCES OP
At Drury, the next musical piece brought out
was the " Honey Moon,"" a comic opera, written
and composed by Mr. William Linley, son of that
excellent musician and composer, William Linley,
patentee of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and
father-in-law to Mr. Sheridan. It was produced
on the 7th of January, 1797, and reflected great
credit on the talents of the author ; but owing to an
unjust cabal, which was clearly proved to exist on
the first night of its performance, it did not meet
with that success to which its merits entitled it, and
the author (with becoming spirit) withdrew it from
the stage. " The Pavilion," a musical entertain-
ment, written and composed also by Mr. William
Linley, in which I performed a principal character,
was brought out some time after the " Honey
Moon,*" but did not meet with much greater success,
and was also withdrawn for the same reason, though
it had some beautiful music in it. The Linley
family were all most highly gifted nature and art
combined, did every thing for them. I remember
once having the satisfaction of singing a duet with
Mrs. Sheridan (William Linley 's sister), at her
house in Bruton Street ; her voice, taste, and judg-
ment, united to make her the rara avis of her day.
The last time I beheld her heavenly countenance
was at Bristol Hot Wells, where she went for the
benefit of her health, having been attacked with a
MICHAEL KELLY. 115
severe pulmonary complaint, which baffled every
effort of art to overcome it. She was, indeed, .what
John Wilkes said of her, the most beautiful flower
that ever grew in Nature's garden ; she breathed
her last in the year 1792, in the thirty-eighth year
of her age ; and was buried by the side of her sister,
Mrs. Tickell, in the cathedral church of Wells.
Her mother, a kind friendly woman, and in her
youth reckoned beautiful, was a native of Wells.
Miss Maria Linley, her sister, a delightful singer,
died of a brain fever, in her grandfather's house at
Bath. After one of the severest paroxysms of the
dreadful complaint, she suddenly rose up in her
bed, and began the song of, " I know that my Re-
deemer liveth," in as full and clear a tone as when
in perfect health. This extraordinary circumstance
may be depended upon, as my friend, Mr. William
Linley, her brother, stated the fact to me a short
time since.
I never beheld more poignant grief than Mr.
Sheridan felt for the loss of his beloved wife ; and
although the world, which knew him only as a pub-
lic man, will perhaps scarcely credit the fact, I have
seen him, night after night, sit and cry like a child,
while I sang to him, at his desire, a pathetic little
song of my composition, " They bore her to her
grassy grave."
On the 9th of February, 1797, was produced,
116 REMINISCENCES OF
for the first time, an interesting musical entertain-
ment, called " A Friend in Need," written by
Prince Hoare, which met with universal appro-
bation ; it was my first appearance in England as
a composer.
On the 8th of April, Miss Parren, who had been
for many years the favourite child of Thalia, and
the elegant representative of fashionable life, quitted
the stage, of which she had been so long one of the
brightest ornaments, to become Countess of Derby.
The theatre, on the occasion, was crowded to the
ceiling ; and the applauses she received were as
warm as they were deserved. Her demeanour in
the theatre, was all affability and good nature ; and
in every action she was ever kind and lady-like.
Lady Teazle, and other characters of high life,
she pourtrayed with all the vivid colouring of
truth ; indeed, she had the advantage, like her
great predecessor, Mrs. . Abington, of associating
with the first society and the greatest wits of the
age.
It was in this year that Mr. Cumberland, the
author, promised my friend, Jack Bannister, to
write a comedy for his benefit, which was to be
interspersed with songs, for Mrs. Jordan, which he
wished me to compose. He was good enough to
give Bannister and myself an invitation to spend a
few days with him, at his house at Tonbridge
MICHAEL KELLY. 117
Wells, in order that he might read his comedy to
us ; and as we were both interested in its success, we
accepted his invitation ; but fearing that we might
not find our residence with him quite so pleasant as
we wished, we agreed, previously to leaving town,
that Mrs. Crouch should write me a letter, stating,
that Mr. Taylor requested me to return to London
immediately, about some Opera concerns ; by which
measure we could take our departure without giving
offence to our host, if we did not like our quarters,
or remain with him if we did.
Jack Bannister rode down on horseback, and
I mounted the top of the Tonbridge coach. Seated
on the roof, were two very pretty girls and two
livery servants ; this party I soon discovered were on
the establishment of the Duchess of Leinster, fol-
lowing her Grace to Tonbridge Wells, whither she
had gone the day before. While ascending Moranf s
Court Hill, we overtook ^Bannister 'on horseback,
who called out to me, " What, Michael ! who
would have expected to see you on the top of the
stage ? I hope you have brought your curling irons
with you ; I shall want my hair dressed before din-
ner ; come to me to the Sussex Hotel. Tonbridge
Weils is very full ; and, I dare say, you will get
plenty of custom, both as a shaver and dresser. 1 '
At the conclusion of this harangue, he bade me
good day, put spurs to his horse, and rode away.
118 REMINISCENCES OF
I resolved to follow up the joke ; and when the
coach stopped at Seven Oaks, I sat down to dinner
(my luncheon) with the servants, in the room allotted
to outside passengers. We grew quite familiar ;
the lady's maid and the two footmen promised me
their protection, and declared that they would do
every thing in their power to get me custom, although
they could not invite me to call and see them at the
Duchess's house, because nothing but the most rigid
stinginess was practised there. " I suppose," said I
" you can give one a glass of ale now and then ?"
" Ale," said one of the footmen, " bless your
heart, we never have ale, never see such a thing,
nothing but small beer, I assure you."
Until we arrived at our journey's end, the abigails
and knights of the shoulder-knot kept entertaining
me with anecdotes of the family, which were no^
very flattering I confess, but which I believe to have
been false, having had for many years the pleasure
of knowing her Grace the Duchess, and Mr. Ogilvie,
her husband.
On our parting where the coach set us down, we
all vowed eternal friendship, and I got to Mr. Cum-
berland's in time for dinner. The party consisted of
myself, Bannister, Mrs. Cumberland, an agreeable
well-informed old lady, and our host, who by-the-
bye, during dinner, called his wife, mamma. We
passed a pleasant evening enough, but wine was
MICHAEL KELLY*. 119
scarce ; however, what we had was excellent, and
what was wanting in beverage, was amply supplied
in converse sweet, and the delights of hearing the
reading of a five-act comedy.
Five acts of a play, read by its author, after tea,
are at any time opiates of the most determined
nature, even if one has risen late and moved little ;
but with such, a predisposition to somnolency as I
found the drive, the dust, the sun, the air, the din-
ner, and a little sensible conversation had induced,
what was to be expected ? Long before the end of
the second act I was fast as a church a slight
tendency to snoring, rendered this misfortune more
appalling than it otherwise would have been ; and
the numberless kicks which I received under the
table from Bannister, served only to vary, by fits
and starts, the melody with which nature chose to
accompany my slumbers, .
When it is recollected, that our host and reader /
had served Sheridan as a model for Sir Fretful, it
may be supposed that he was somewhat irritated by
my inexcusable surrender of myself : but no ; he
closed his proceedings and his manuscript at the end
of the second act, and we adjourned to a rational
supper upon a cold mutton bone, and dissipated in
two tumblers of weak red wine and water.
When the repast ended, the bard conducted us to
our bed-rooms : the apartment in which I was to
120 REMINISCENCES OF
sleep, was his study ; he paid me the compliment
to say, he had a little tent-bed put up there, which
he always appropriated to his favourite guest. " The
bookcase at the side/ 1 he added, " was filled with
his own writings. 1 '
I bowed, and said, " I dare say, Sir, I shall
sleep very soundly."
" Ah ! very good," said he ; "I understand
you, a hit, Sir, a palpable hit ; you mean, being
so close to my writings, they will act as a soporific.
You are a good soul, Mr. Kelly, but a very drowsy
one God bless you you are a kind creature, to
come into the country to listen to my nonsense
buonas noches ! as we say in Spain good night !
I hope it w r ill be fine weather for you to walk about
in the morning ; for I think, with Lord Falkland,
who said he pitied unlearned gentlemen on a rainy
day umph good night, God bless you, you are
so kind."
I could plainly perceive, that the old gentleman
was not over- pleased, but I really had no intention of
giving him offence. He was allowed, however, to
be one of the most sensitive of men, when his own
writings were spoken of; and, moreover, reckoned
envious in the highest degree.
He had an inveterate dislike to Mr. Sheridan, and
would not allow him the praise of a good dramatic
writer ; which, considering the ridicule Sheridan
MICHAEL KELLY. 121
had heaped upon him in " The Critic," is not so
surprising. That piece was wormwood to him; he
was also very sore at what Sheridan had said of him,
before he drew his portrait in that character.
The anecdote Mr. Sheridan told me. When
the " School for Scandal" came out, Cumberland's
children prevailed upon their father to take them
to see it; they had the stage box their father
was seated behind them ; and, as the story was told
by a gentleman, a friend, of Sheridan's, who was
close by, every time the children laughed at what
was going on on the stage, he pinched them, and
said, " What are you laughing at, my dear little
folks ? You should not laugh, my angels ; there is
nothing to laugh at." And then, in an under tone,
" Keep still, you little dunces."
Sheridan having been told of this, said, " It was
very ungrateful in Cumberland to have been dis-
pleased with his poor children, for laughing at my
comedy ; for I went the other night to see his tra-
gedy, and laughed at it from beginning to end."
But with all the irritability which so frequently
belongs to dramatists, Mr. Cumberland was a per-
fect gentleman in his manners, and a good classical
scholar. I was walking with him on the pantiles
one morning, and took the opportunity of telling
him (which was the truth) that his dramatic works
were in great request at Vienna; and that -his
VOL, IT. G
REMINISCENCES OF
" West Indian 11 and " Brothers, 11 particularly, were
first-rate favourites; this pleased the old man so
much, that (I flattered myself) it made him forget
my drowsy propensities.
He took me up to the top of Mount Ephraim,
where we met the Duchess of Leinster and a lady,
walking ; she had just got out of her carnage, and
the two identical footmen who had been on the stage-
coach with me, were walking behind her. She
stopped to speak to Mr. Cumberland; and never
shall I forget the countenance of the servants, when
her Grace said, " Mr. Kelly, I am glad to see you ;
have you been long here ?"
I replied, " No, Madam, only two days.*"
" Did you come down alone ?" said the Duchess.
" Not entirely, 11 said I ; " I came down on the
coach, and I assure you, met with some very
pleasant, chatty companions, who amused me very
much, by a variety of anecdotes about themselves,
and their masters and mistresses. 11 While I was
saying this, I kept looking at my two sworn friends,
the footmen, who seemed struck with wonder and
surprise.
" Well, 11 said the Duchess, " I hope this place
will agree with you. 1 '
I said, " I fear not, for I am extremely partial to
malt liquor, and I am told, that it is execrable here ;
and that in the very first houses, one meets with
j
MICHAEL KELLY.
nothing but bad small beer." I again looked at my
friends, and I am sure they wished me at Jericho ;
for it was evident, by their countenances, that they
were afraid I should betray their confidence ; and
they seemed quite relieved when they saw me
make my bow and walk away.
A letter arrived the next morning, as we had
planned, which called me to London ; we informed
our host, that we were obliged to quit his hospitable
roof early the following day. " My children,"
said he, " I regret that you must leave your old
bard, but business must be attended to ; and as this
is the last day I am to have the pleasure of your
company, when you return from your evening's
rambles on the pantiles, I will give you what I call
a treat."
After dinner, Bannister and myself went to the
library. " What," said I to Bannister, " can be
the treat Cumberland has promised us to night ? I
suppose he took notice of your saying at dinner, that
your favourite meal was supper ; and he intends, as
we are going away to-morrow morning, to give us
some little delicacies." Bannister professed entire
ignorance, and some doubt; and on our returr
from our walk, we found Cumberland in his parlour,
waiting for us. As I had anticipated, the cloth
was laid for supper, and in the middle of the table
. , . fll JGfu
was a large dish with a cover on it.
2
124? REMINISCENCES OF
When we were seated, with appetites keen, and
eyes fixed upon the mysterious dainty, our host,
after some preparation, desired a servant to remove
the cover, and on the dish lay another manuscript
play. There, my boys," said he, " there is the
treat which I promised you ; that, Sirs, is my
Tiberius, in five acts ; and after we have had our
sandwich and wine and water, I will read you every
word of it. I am not vain, but I do think it
by far the best play I ever wrote, and I think you'll
say so."
, The threat itself was horrible ; the Reading sauce
was ill suited to the light supper, and neither poppy
nor Mandragore, nor even the play of the preced-
ing evening, would have been half so bad as his
Tiberius ; but will the reader believe that it was
no joke, but all in earnest, and that he actually
fulfilled his horrid promise, and read the three first
acts ? but seeing violent symptoms of our old com-
plaint coming over us, he proposed that we should
go to bed, and in the morning that he should treat
us, before we started, by reading the fourth and
fifth acts ; but we saved him the trouble, for we
were off before he was out of his bed. Such are
the perils and hair-breadth "scapes which attend the
guests of dramatists who live in the country.
The comedy which he read on the first evening
of our visit, and which was called " The Last of
MICHAEL KELLY.
the Family,'" was brought out at Drury Lane, as
he had promised, for Bannister's benefit, on the 8th
of May, and was repeated four times with moderate
success. It contained much elegant dialogue and
correct sentiment, but the plot was too meagre and
inartificial for effect. Bannister spoke a prologue
in the character of Sheva, in " The Jew;" and
Mrs. Jordan an epilogue with a song, which were
much applauded.
At this period, I left Suffolk Street, and took
a house in Lisle Street, Leicester Square, which
Mrs. Crouch fitted up according to her own excel-
lent taste. Upon this scite, an Italian Opera House
was to have been erected by a Mr. (TRyley, a
clever and ingenious man, under the patronage of
the Marquis of Salisbury (whose estate it was), but
the project fell to the ground, and the theatre never
rose from it.
On the 14th June, a benefit was given at Coven t
Garden Theatre, for the widows and children of
the brave men who gloriously fell in action on the
14th February, under the late Lord St. Vincent.
The three theatres, on that night, combined their
forces for the laudable purposes of charity. Mrs.
Jordan played Peggy, in " The Country Girl ;"
and we performers in " No Song, no Supper,"
gave our aid. The whole corps de ballet from the
Opera House, represented the ballet of " Cupid
126 REMINISCENCES OF
and Psyche." Several performers of Covent Gar-
den Theatre came forward; and Mrs. Abington,
who had not appeared for many seasons, spoke a
favourite epilogue.
For Drury Lane, I composed an afterpiece,
called "The Chimney Corner," translated from
the French by Mr. Walsh Porter, an excellent,
though a very eccentric man ; to whom, as I have
already said, I was indebted for many attentions
when at Worcester, and elsewhere. The scenery
was very pretty, but the piece was not successful ;
and after its third representation, was withdrawn.
On the 14-th December, the celebrated dramatic
romance, called " The Castle Spectre," was pro-
duced at Drury Lane, written by M. G. Lewis, sq.
It had a prodigious run ; John Kemble performed
in it, as did Mrs. Jordan, and Mrs. Powell, who
made a splendid spectre. The first night of its
representation, the sinking of the Ghost in a flame
of fire, and the beauty of the whole scene, had a
most sublime effect. I composed the music for the
piece; but for the situation in which the Ghost
first appears in the oratory to her daughter, and in
which the acting both of Mrs. Powell and Mrs.
Jordan, without speaking, rivetted the audience, I
selected the chacoone of Jomelli, as an accompa-
niment to the action. This chacoone had been
danced at Stutgard, by Vestris, and was thought an
MICHAEL KELLY. 127
odd choice of mine for so solemn a scene ; but the
effect which it produced warranted the experiment.
Mr. M. Lewis, the author of this drama, though
eccentric, had a great deal of genius, I knew him
well, and have passed many pleasant hours in his
society. I composed his operas of " Adelmorn
the Outlaw ;" " The Wood Daemon ;" " Venoni ;"
" Adelgitha ;" all for Drury Lane ; and a romantic
drama, which he never brought forward, called
" Zoroaster." The last I composed was, " One
o'Clock," produced at the Lyceum. Of all his
dramas, the " Castle Spectre" was his favourite,
perhaps from its having been the most attractive
and popular ; and yet, it has been said, it was the
indirect cause of his death.
After his father's decease he went to Jamaica, to
visit his large estates. When there, for the amuse-
ment of his slaves, he caused his favourite drama,
" The Castle Spectre," to be performed ; they were
delighted, but of all parts which struck them, that
which delighted them most was the character of
Hassan, the black. He used indiscreetly to mix
with these people in the hours of recreation, and
seemed, from his mistaken urbanity and ill-judged
condescension, to be their very idol. Presuming
on indulgence, which they were not prepared to
feel or appreciate, they petitioned him to emancipate
them. He told them, that during his lifetime it
128 REMINISCENCES OF
could not be done ; but gave them a solemn premise)
that at his death, they should have their freedom.
Alas ! it was a fatal promise for him, for on the
passage homeward he died ; it has been said, by
poison, administered by three of his favourite black
brethren, whom he was bringing to England to make
free British subjects of; and who, thinking that by
killing their master they should gain their promised
liberty, in return for all his liberal treatment, put
an end to his existence at the first favourable oppor-
tunity.
This anecdote I received from a gentleman who
was at Jamaica when Mr. Lewis sailed for England,
and I relate it as I heard it, without pledging
myself to its entire authenticity.
It is, however, notorious, that he died at sea;
and it has often been remarked, that the death of
a person so well known in the circles of literature
and fashion as he was, never created so slight a
sensation. This evidently arose from circumstances
which had removed him from the immediate world
with which he had been accustomed to mix ; and
having been already absent from it for a length of
time, his departure from the general world, was
neither felt nor commented upon.
I once received a command from his present
Majesty, when Prince of Wales, to compose a simple
English ballad for him ; and I had his gracious
MICHAEL KELLY. 129
permission to publish it, as composed for His Hoyal
Highness, and dedicate it to him. I applied to my
friend Lewis to write me one, which he did. The
song was very popular, and sung by Incledon, at
Covent Garden Theatre. The last verse was so
applicable to the fate of its author, that I cannot
resist giving the words.
TO-MORROW,
A Ballad, written by M. G. LEWIS, Esq. and composed by MICH A EL
KELLY, expressly fur His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF
WALES.
I.
A bankrupt in trade, fortune frowning on shore,
All lost save uiy spirit and honour ;
No choice being left, but to take to the oar,
I engaged in the Mars, Captain Connor.
But the winds call me some few words to say,
To Polly these moments I borrow,
For surely she grieves I leave her to-daj-,
And must sail on the salt seas to-morrow.
IT.
Nay, weep not, though Fortune her smile now denies,
Time may soften the gipsy's displeasure ;
Perhaps she may throw in my way some rich prize,
And send me home loaded with treasure.
If so lucky, oh! doubt not, without more delay,
Will I hasten to banish your sorrow,
And bring back a heart that adores you to-day,
And will love you as dearly to-morrow.
130 REMINISCENCES OF
III.
But, ah ! the fond hope may prove fruitless and vain,
Which my bosom now ventures to cherish ;
In some perilous fight I may haply be slain,
Or, o'erwhelm'd, in the ocean may perish.
Should such he the fate of poor Tom, deigu to pay
To his loss a fit tribute of sorrow,
And sometimes remember our parting to-day,
Should a wave be his coffin to-morrow.
Mr. Lewis had many advantages as an author ;
he was a good German, understood Spanish, and
was perfect master of French and Italian.
After the success of the " Castle Spectre/' I
determined to endeavour to get the French pro-
gramme of " Blue Beard" (which I had brought
from Paris) dramatized. I accordingly called upon
my valued friend, George Colman, and told him that
I had brought him the outline of a French romance,
which, I believed, if he would undertake to write it,
would prove higMy successful. I told him moreover,
that my object was to endeavour to establish my
name as a composer, by furnishing the music for it ;
that I was perfectly sure a week's work would
accomplish the literary part of the two acts, for
which I would give him a couple of hundred
pounds.
After having discussed the subject, and two
bottles of w r ine, the witty dramatist agreed to
my terms, and I promised to accompany him to his
MICHAEL KELLY. 131
country-house, and remain with him for a week ; I
did so, and before the week was ended, the piece
i 11 11
was complete, and those who have seen it, and
who has not ? will bear testimony to , the admirable
manner in which he executed his task.
The drama was immediately accepted at Drury
Lane ; orders were issued to the machinists, paint-
ers, and decorators, to bring it forward with the
greatest possible splendour and magnificence ; and
it must be admitted, that nothing could exceed its
brilliancy ; the music, which fortunately became
extremely popukr, I composed, with the exception
of two selected pieces, and the success of the whole
was beyond expectation and precedent. It may be
worth noticing, that the Blue Beard, who rode the
elephant in perspective over the mountains, was
little Edmund Kean, who, at that time, little
thought he should become a first class actor.
The 16th January, 1798, was the first night of
its production. From the bungling of the carpen-
ters, and the machinery going all wrong, at one
time, as it drew near the conclusion, I gave it up as
lost: but never shall I forget the relief I expe-
rienced when Miss Decamp sang, " I see them
gallopping ! I see them gallopping !" She gave it
with such irresistible force of expression, as to call
from the audience loud and continued shouts of
applause.
132 REMINISCENCES OF
At the end of the piece, when Blue Beard is slain
by Selim, a most ludicrous scene took place. Where
Blue Beard sinks under the stage, a skeleton rises,
which, when seen by the audience, was to sink down
again ; but not one inch would the said skeleton
move. I, who had just been killing Blue Beard,
totally forgetting where I was, ran up with my
drawn sabre, and pummelled the poor skeleton's
head with all my might, vociferating, until he dis-
appeared, loud enough to be heard by the whole
house, " D n you ! d n you ! why don't you go
down ?" The audience were in roars of laughter
at this ridiculous scene, but good-naturedly ap-
peared to enter into the feelings of an infuriated
composer.
The next day, the piece was much curtailed ; the
scenery and machinery were quite perfect ; and, on
its next representation, it was received with the most
unqualified approbation, by overflowing houses, and
has kept its standing for six-and- twenty years. The
music had an unparalleled sale, but I could not
escape the shafts of envy and malice. The pro-
fessional, would-be theatrical composers, the music-
sellers and their friends, gave out that the music was
not mine, and that I had stolen it from other com-
posers. But I laughed them to scorn; conscious
that I never even selected a piece from any com-
poser to which, when I printed it, I did not affix his
MICHAEL KELLY. 133
name ; always bearing in mind what Colley Gibber
tells us of himself, that when he produced his first
comedy, which was successful, of " Love's Last
Shift/ 1 his enemies gave out that it was not his
own ; Gibber said, if they knew the person to whom
it really belonged, he had been true to his trust, for
he had never yet revealed the secret. The Italian
proverb was ever present to my mind, which says,
Lasciategli dire, pure die
Lasciamo fare.
In English :
Let them go on saying,
So they let me go on doing *.
In the grand march, where Blue Beard comes
over the mountain, there was to be a military band.
* The second act of Blue Beard opened with a view of the
Spain's horses, at a distance ; these horses were admirably made
of pasteboard, and answered every purpose for which they were
wanted. One morning, Mr. Sheridan, John Kemble, and myself,
went to the property-room ef Drury Lane Theatre, and there
found Johnston, the able and ingenious machinist, at work upon
the horses, and on the point of beginning the elephant, which
was to carry Blue Beard. Mr. Sheridan said to Johnston,
" Don't you think, Johnston, you had better go to Pidcock's, at
Exeter 'Change, and hire an elephant fora number of nights?"
" Not I, Sir," replied the enthusiastic machinist ; "if I cannot
make a better elephant than that at Exeter 'Change, I deserve
to be hanged."
134? REMINISCENCES OF
I was not sufficiently conversant with wind instru-
ments ; and therefore I went to Mr. Eley, a Ger-
man, and Master of the hand of the guards. I took
my melody to him, and he put the parts to it most
delightfully. A considerable bet was made, that
the melody was his, and not mine ; to decide the
wager, and put the matter at rest, I was induced,
after twenty-two years had elapsed, to write to
Mr. Eley, and received his answer, a copy of which
I insert:
July 18th, 1821.
48, Frith Street, Soho.
DEAR SIR,
I received your letter concerning the march in Blue
Beard, of which you gave to me the melody, to put parts
for the orchestra wind instruments, to which I added some part
to finish the trio, and to lead into the next chorus. I wrote this
score in the. music-room, at Covent Garden Theatre, during the
acts of the play, which several of the orchestra did see, and con-
cluded it was my melody ; though I assured them it was not ;
from whence this error has arose.
I remain, dear Sir,
Most truly yours,
R.T.ELEY.
'
I was now finally settled in my house in Lisle
Street, and about the same period, my esteemed
friend, Mr. Thomas Philips, the singer, called on
me, and wished me to take him as a pupil, and
offered me a most tempting premium, but I was too
MICHAEL KELLY. 135
much occupied to accept it. He went to Dr. Ar-
nold, under whose able instruction he became a
sound musician, and an accomplished singer ; he is
still in the profession, and by far the very best acting
singer on the English stage: to any profession
which he had embraced, he would have been an
ornament; his conduct is ever honourable, his
feelings always gentlemanly.
About the same time, a less agreeable incident
occurred to me, which, although purely of a do-
mestic nature, may be serviceably mentioned here,
in order to put others upon their guard, under
similar circumstances. I had advertised in the
newspapers, that I was in want of a man-servant ;
a middle-aged man came after the place an Irish-
man. He said he had lived with a gentleman of
fortune, of the name of Pritchard, who resided
chiefly at his country house, in Epping Forest, but
was often at an hotel in South Molton Street ; if I
could make it convenient to call there the next day,
he would be in town, and I might get his character.
I went the next day to the hotel; the waiter in-
formed me that Mr. Pritchard had been there, and
waited for me as long as he could, but would call
upon me in Lisle Street. When I returned to
dinner, Mrs. Crouch told me that an elderly gentle-
man, in deep mourning, of the name of Pritchard,
had called upon me, in a job-carriage. She de-
REMINISCENCES OF
scribed him as a particularly interesting old gentle-
man. He gave the Irishman an excellent character,
and said that he should not have parted with him
upon any account, but that having recently be-
come a widower, he felt it necessary to reduce his
establishment.
Mrs. Crouch gave so favourable a description of
the " elderly gentleman," and the elderly gentle-
man had given her such a favourable description of
his Irish servant, that we were perfectly satisfied, and
the man was directed to come to his place.
After he had been in my service some days (it
was in the winter time), Mrs. Crouch's own maid
came into my room, about four o'clock in the morn-
ing, and said she heard such a noise in the passage,
as convinced her that somebody was endeavouring
to break into the house.
I rose, and crept softly to the head of the stairs,
and listened, when I heard the respectable Hiber-
nian protege of the highly respectable elderly gen-
tleman from Epping Forest, say, through the key-
hole of the street-door, " Be quiet ! the maid-ser-
vants are not gone to bed ; come back in an hour ;
the plate is in the back drawing-room. 1 ' This
was pretty conclusive evidence of the liberal inten-
tions of my new servant, touching the disposition of
my property. I immediately got my sword, and
proceeded to the passage, where I found the object
MICHAEL KELLY. 137
of my search. I told him that if he stirred one
inch, I would run him through the hody. In the
mean time, one of the maids called a watchman, and
the culprit was consigned to the coal cellar for the
rest of the night.
In the morning, I consulted Mr. Holloway, my
solicitor, as to my future conduct in the husiness ;
and he knowing, professionally, the difficulties, *
doubts, and expense of prosecuting and punishing
criminals, advised me to profit by my experience,
and turn the fellow away ; I followed his counsel,
and discharged my servant.
One morning, about six weeks afterwards, while
I was at the Opera House, superintending a re-
hearsal, a Bow Street officer came to me from Mr.
Bond, with his compliments, to request my imme-
diate attendance at the Police Office. I obeyed the
magistrate's wishes, and to my great astonishment,
found seated on the bench, beside the magistrates,
Mrs. Crouch, and her sister, Mrs. Horrebow ; my
ci-devant Hibernian servant at the bar, in custody,
in company with his ally, the respectable elderly
gentleman, who had so liberally given his friend,
that which he had not himself a character. He
was, however, no longer dressed in mourning, but,
in a light-coloured coat, all in tatters, looking quite
miserable.
It appeared that, through the recommendation
138 REMINISCENCES OF
of Mr. Pritchard, the worthy Irishman got into
the service of a clergyman at Clerkenwell, into
whose house, one night, the family being all at
rest, he admitted two thieves, who stripped it of
every thing moveable. Upon closer examination
of the circumstances, it turned out, that he be-
longed to a gang of housebreakers, who kept
Mr. Pritchard in pay for the express purpose of
giving false characters. Mr. Pritchard was sent to
Newgate : and the Irishman, having been found
guilty at the Old Bailey, was hanged, after having
confessed the commission of innumerable atrocities.
As I before said, I relate this to serve as a
caution to my readers against receiving the cha-
racters of servants from persons to whom they
have not a respectable reference, however respect-
able their personal appearance, or however amiable
or gentlemanly their manner.
This summer I took a cottage at Battersea, and
accepted an engagement for part of the season, at
Column's theatre, in order to introduce a pupil of
Mrs. Crouch, a Miss Griffiths, who afterwards
married a Mr. Stewart, a comic performer on tne
Dublin Stage. She played Polly, at the Hay-
market, to my Macheath, and Clarissa to my
Lionel ; she was a girl of great promise, and
becoming a great favourite. She was the daughter
of the stage-door keeper of the Edinburgh theatre,
MICHAEL KELLY. 139
and was employed about the house, to sweep
the stage, &c. when Mrs. Crouch and myself
acted at Edinburgh. She was so delighted with
>Mrs. Crouch's performance, that some time after
r w had quitted the theatre, without intimating
her intention to her father, or any person be-
longing to her, she travelled on foot all the way
from Edinburgh to London, and found out Mrs.
Crouch in Lisla Street, who took her under her
tuition and patronage, and bestowed the greatest
pains in instructing her. She had a sweet voice,
a fine ear, and a great share of intellect.
On the 2nd of August, the stage had an irrepa-
rable loss, by the death of that excellent actor,
John Palmer, who expired on the stage, while
acting in " The Stranger," just as he uttered
" There is another, and a better world !"
-
A similar melancholy event happened in the
year 1758, when Joseph Pethren, playing the
Duke, in u Measure for Measure," dropped down
dead, after repeating these words :
"Reason thus with life If I do lose thee, I lose a thing
that none but fools would keep ; a breath thou art."
Alas ! poor Palmer ( his fate was a lamentable
one; he had been continually involved in diffi-
140 REMINISCENCES OF
culties, brought on him by struggling to support
and educate a numerous family; and at the very
moment that a hope of extrication from his diffi-
culties gleamed upon him, he sank into the grave :
for it is perhaps not generally known, that two
days previously to his going to Liverpool, at my
house, and I may safely say, through my influence,
Mr. Sheridan appointed him stage-manager of
Drury Lane Theatre, with a stipend of 400Z. per
annum, exclusive of his salary as an actor ; and
commissioned me to be the bearer of the pleasing
intelligence to him.
The next morning, when I was singing a song at
rehearsal, at the Haymarket, Palmer, who had been
in the country, came on the stage to speak to one of
the actors; when I espied him, without stopping
the band, I went on singing the air ; but, for the
right words of it, substituted the following :
" My good Jack Palmer, don't go away ;
I've got something pleasing to you to say."
This piece of sublime poetry produced a hearty
laugh. I informed -him of the appointment, with
which, poor fellow, he was truly delighted ; it was
indeed, the very summit of his hopes and wishes.
That evening he set off for Liverpool, whence he
never returned. It was supposed, that the death
MICHAEL KELLY. 141
of his youngest boy, on whom he doated, broke
his heart.
No actor was ever more generally efficient;
in some characters he was excellent, in none
indifferent. His acting, in " Joseph Surface ;"
"The Suicide;" Stukely, in "The Gamester; 1 '
Dionysius, in " The Grecian Daughter ;" Young
Wilding, in " The Liar ;" Sir Toby Belch, in
" Twelfth Night,' 1 was perfection. Mr. Aickin,
the Liverpool manager, gave a benefit at his
theatre, for the orphan children ; Mr. Colman
gave his company for the same laudable purpose ;
the Opera House was lent them, as Mr. Colman's
theatre was not sufficiently large.- Drury Lane
Theatre opened on the loth of September, with
" The Stranger, 1 ' and " The Citizen, 11 for the
benefit of his orphan family ; the house overflowed
in every part ; and there were a number of hand-
some presents made them. The receipts of the
night were upwards of SOO/. ; a just tribute to
the talents of their unfortunate father.
This benefit has recently been referred to publicly,
in consequence of the melancholy occurrence which
awakened a fresh interest in the public for one
of the surviving sons. An allusion was made by
Mr. Palmer, Jun, to the non-payment of 'the receipts
of the house by Mr. Sheridan ; but from a corres-
pondence which appeared in the newspapers, it
seems that the allegation was founded on a mistake.
142 REMINISCENCES OF
The next musical piece I produced at Drury
Lane was in conjunction witli Mr. Dusseck, the
celebrated piano-forte player ; he composed the
serious part of it, I the comic. What he did,
was masterly and effective. The piece was entitled,
4< The Captive of Spilburg;" the story from the
French piece, Camille ; ou, le Souterrain ;" it
was ably managed by Prince Hoare, and had a run
of seventeen nights. My next musical productions
were in a play taken from Mr. Lewis's romance of
" The Monk," by Mr. Boaden, and performed at
Drury Lane, called " Aurelio and Miranda." I
thought there was a great deal of merit in the
writing ; but it was only acted six nights : many
thought it indecorous to represent a church on the
stage (which, by the way, was a fine specimen of
the art, painted by Capon). But the powerful
objection was, the unearthly appearance of Kemble,
as the Monk. I never shall forget his attitude im-
mediately after his entrance ; his dress the look ."
the tout ensemble struck me to be more than
human. He was hailed with the most rapturous
applause ; but he stood motionless, with uplifted
eyes, and apparently regardless of the public tribute.
The great sums of money produced to the theatre
by " Blue Beard," induced the Drury Lane pro-
prietors to prevail on Mr. Colman to write a musical
afterpiece, to vie with it in splendour. The piece
was entitled, " Feudal Times ; or, The Banquet
MICHAEL KELLY. 145
Gallery.*' I composed the whole of the music for
it. Although the scenery was grand, and the piece
well acted, it was not so successful as Blue Beard ;
although performed, in the course of the season, for
many nights. It was brought out in January 1799.
On the 5th of April, 1799, the musical world
had to regret the demise of the veteran Cramer, the
admirable violin performer, leader of the Opera
band, King's concert, and all the musical meetings.
On the 24th of May, in the same year, Mr.
Sheridan's celebrated play of " Pizarro," from
Kotzebue, was produced; it,was admirably acted,
and I had the proud distinction of having my name
joined with that of Mr. Sheridan, in its production,
having been selected by him to compose the whole
of the music.
Expectation was on tip-toe: and strange as it
may appear, " Pizarro" was advertised, and every
box in the house taken, before the fourth act of the
play was begun ; nor had I one single word of the
poetry for which I was to compose the music. Day
after day was I attending on Mr. Sheridan, repre-
senting that time was flying, and that nothing was
done for me. His answer uniformly was, " Depend
upon it, my dear Mic, you shall have plenty of
matter to go on with to-morrow ;" but day after
day, that morrow came not, which, as my name was
advertised as the composer of the music, drove me
half crazy.
144 REMINISCENCES OF
One day I was giving a dinner to the Earl of
Guilford, the Marquis of Ormond (then Lord Or-
mond), my valued friend Sir Charles Bampfylde,
Sir Francis Burdett, George Colman, J. Richard-
son, M. Lewis, and John Kemble; and, about ten
o'clock, when I was in the full enjoyment of this
charming society, Mr. Sheridan appeared before us,
and informed my friends, that he must carry me off'
with him, that moment, to Drury Lane; begged
they would excuse my absence for one hour, and he
would return with me. I saw it would be useless
to contradict him, so I went to the theatre, and
found the stage and house lighted up, as it would
have been for a public performance ; not a human
being there, except ourselves, the painters, and car-
penters ; and all this preparation was merely that
he might see two scenes, those of Pizarro's tent,
and the Temple of the Sun.
The great author established himself in the centre
of the pit, with a large bowl of negus on the bench
before him ; nor would he move until it was finished.
I expostulated with him upon the cruelty of not
letting me have the words which I had to compose,
not to speak of his having taken me away from my
friends, to see scenery and machinery, with which,
as I was neither painter, nor carpenter, nor ma-
chinist, I could have nothing to do : his answer was,
that he wished me to see the Temple of the San, in
which the choruses and marches were to come over
MICHAEL KELLY.
the platform. " To-morrow," said he, " I promise
I will come and take a cutlet with you, and tell you
all you have to do. My dear Mic, you know you
can depend upon me; and I know that I can de-
pend upon you ; but these bunglers of carpenters
require looking after/ 1
After this promise, we returned to my house ; I
found my party waiting ; nor did we separate until
five o'clock in the morning.
To my utter surprise, the next day, according to
his own appointment, Mr. Sheridan really came to
dinner ; after the cloth was removed, he proposed
business. I had pen, ink, music-paper, and a
small piano-forte (which the Duke of Queensberry
had given me, and which he had been accustomed to
take with him in his carriage, when he travelled,)
put upon the table with our wine. My aim was, to
discover the situations of the different choruses and
the marches, and Mr. Sheridan's ideas on the sub-
ject ; and he gave them in the following manner :
" In the Temple of the Sun, 1 ' said he, " I want
the virgins of the Sun, and their high priest, to
chaunt a solemn invocation to their deity. 11 I sang
two or three bars of music to him, which I thought
corresponded with what he wished, and marked them
down. He then made a sort of rumbling noise with
his voice (for he had not the slightest idea of turn-
ing a tune), resembling a deep gruff bow, wow
VOL. II. H
146 REMINISCENCES OF
wow ; but though there was not the slightest resem-
blance of an air in the noise he made, yet so clear
were his ideas of effect, that I perfectly understood
his meaning, though conveyed through the medium
of a bow, wow, wow. Having done this, and
pointed out their several situations, he promised
me, faithfully, that I should have the poetry in a
couple of days ; and, marvellous to say, he actually
did send me Cora's song, which Mrs. Jordan sang ;
and the trio, sung by Mrs. Crouch, Miss Decamp,
and Miss Leak, "Fly away, time,"" which they
made very effective. The poetry of the last, how-
ever, was written by my good friend, Mr. Richard-
son ; the song really by himself. Having extracted
these, I saw that it was perfectly ridiculous to expect
the poetry of the choruses from the author of the
play ; and as I knew a literary gentleman, whose
poverty, if not his will, would consent' to assist me,
I gave him Mr. Sheridan's ideas, as I had caught
them from his bow, wow, wows, and got him to
write words to them, which he did very well ; at least
well enough to answer my purpose.
But if this were a puzzling situation for a com-
poser, what will my readers think of that, in which
the actors were left, when I state the fact, that, at
the time the house was overflowing on the first night's
performance, all that was written of the play was
actually rehearsing, and that incredible as it may
MICHAEL KELLi'. 147
appear, until the end of the fourth act, neither Mrs.
Siddons, nor Charles Kemble, nor Barrymore, had
all their speeches for the fifth ? Mr. Sheridan was
up-stairs in the prompter's room, where he was
writing the last part of the play, while the earlier
parts were acting; and every ten minutes he brought
down as much of the dialogue as he had done, piece-
meal, into the green-room, abusing himself and his
negligence, and making a thousand winning and
soothing apologies, for having kept the performers
so long in such painful suspense.
One remarkable trait in Sheridan's character was,
his penetrating knowledge of the human mind ; for
no man was more careful in his carelessness ; he was
quite aware of his power over his performers, and of
the veneration in which they held his great talents ;
had he not been so, he would not have ventured to
keep them (Mrs. Siddons particularly) in the dread-
ful anxiety which they were suffering through the
whole of the evening. Mrs. Siddons told me that
she was in an agony of fright ; but Sheridan per-
fectly knew, that Mrs. Siddons, C. Kemble, and
Barrymore, were quicker in study than any other
performers concerned ; and that he could trust them
to be perfect in what they had t o say, even at half-
an-hour's notice. And the event proved that he was
right : the play was received with the greatest ap-
probation, and though brought out so late in the
14:8 REMINISCENCES OF
season, was played thirty-one nights ; and for years
afterwards proved a mine of wealth to the Drury
Lane Treasury, and, indeed, to all the theatres in
the United Kingdom.
Such, however, were the delays during the first
night's performance, that the play did not end until
within five minutes of midnight ! The farce of
" My Grandmother, 1 ' was to follow, but the exhaus_
tion of the audience was so complete, that, when the
afterpiece commenced, only seventeen persons re-
mained in the whole dress circle, and twenty-two in
the pit.
John Kemble is so perfectly identified with the
character of Rolla, that perhaps, as anecdotes of such
a person, however trifling, if characteristic, are
always interesting, I may be permitted to mention
an instance of his coolness in the midst of difficulty,
which I had forgotten to relate in its proper place,
as far as dates are concerned.
In the summer of 1783, he and his unrivalled
sister, Mrs. Siddons, were engaged at Limerick ;
and Mrs. Crouch, then Miss Phillips, was also there,
playing on the alternate nights with the tragedians.
She was beyond measure popular, and the theme of
universal admiration. One evening, after having
performed Rosetta, in " Love in a Village,"" some
officers of a militia regiment, quartered in Limerick,
being very much intoxicated, avowed their intention ,
MICHAEL KELLY. 149
of escorting her home ; and, in order to carry their
plan into execution, obtained admission behind the
scenes, and proceeded to address her on the subject.
She, terrified, ran into her dressing-room and locked
the door, which these heroes declared they would
forthwith break open.
It so happened, that Mr. Phillips, her father,
was laid up with the gout at that juncture, and had
commissioned Kemble to see his daughter home
after the play ; and thus authorised, the moment he
heard the disturbance and its cause, he proceeded to
the scene of action, and politely requested the
military force to withdraw ; but they positively
refused to stir without Miss Phillips. Upon which,
Kemble took his sword, and said, that having been
deputed by the lady's father to escort her to her
house, he should execute his commission at the
hazard of his life, and requested Miss Phillips to
open the door of the dressing-room.
With this request she complied ; but they had
not proceeded many paces, before one of the officers,
of the name of Yelverton, came behind Kemble, and
made a cut at his head with his sabre. A woman,
of the name of Judy Cameron, one of the stage-
dressers, perceived the intention ; and catching the
man's arm, wrested the sword from him, and, in all
probability, saved Kemble's life. Kemble saw the
whole transaction ; and, without the smallest altera-
150 REMINISCENCES OF
tbn in look or manner, or being in the slightest
degree moved, he turned to his preserver, Judy,
and said, " Well done, Euphrasia !" He then
drew his sword, and conducted his fair charge
in safety to her chair.
Lord Muskerry, who was Colonel of the regi-
ment, called upon Kemble in the morning, and told
him that every apology he might require should be
made by the officers. This anecdote, extremely
illustrative of character, I had both from' Mrs.
Crouch and her father, who always mentioned it
with gratitude, and admiration of the high spirit
and perfect coolness which Kemble displayed upon
this trying occasion.
My next production, at Drury Lane, was an
afterpiece, from the German of Kotzebue. I do
not recollect the German title of it, but it was
literally translated into English by Mr. Papendick,
a native of Germany, a very worthy man, and page
to Her Majesty Queen Charlotte. He shewed it
to my friend John Bannister, who told me he
approved of the incidents and situations ; but in the
state in which it then was, he thought it impossible
to produce it on the English stage with any effect ;
but he 'proposed to me to join with him in pur-
chasing the copyright, and getting it adapted, by
some skilful hand, for Drury Lane Theatre.
Having a reliance on his judgment, I agreed to
MICHAEL KELLY. 151
go with him the next day to Windsor, where Mr.
Papendick was the page in waiting, to propose
terms for the purchase of his translation ; we did
so, and agreed for a certain sum, and returned the
next day to town. Bannister prevailed on our
worthy friend, Tom Dibdin, to take the main
incident, and write a piece from it; which (sub
rosd) he did admirably. He called it "Of Age
To-morrow." I composed the whole of the music,
with the exception of the opening piece, which I
selected from Paesiello. This farce was, and is,
a great favourite ; nothing could be more perfect
than the acting and singing of Mrs. Charles Kem-
ble, then Miss Decamp ; by those who had the
pleasure of witnessing it, I think it impossible it can
ever be forgotten. Bannister's personification of
the Hair Dresser, was excellent ; had he served a
seven years' apprenticeship to the trade, he could
not have been more aufait in it, nor have handled
the comb, curling irons, and powder puff, more
skilfully. Wewitzer, in the Old German Soldier,
was excellent ; and Suett, as the Country Sportsman,
highly amusing.
This piece was very productive to the treasury,
at little or no expense. In it there was a ballad,
written by Mr. M. G. Lewis, and composed by
myself, which was sung by Miss Decamp, entitled,
" No, my love, no." I believe I may say it was
152 REMINISCENCES OF
the most popular song of the day ; it was not only
to be found on every piano-forte, but also to be
heard in every street, for it was a great favourite
with the ballad-singers : but the primitive cause of
its gaining such popularity was, its being sung
delightfully by a distinguished amateur, and more
completely too, with the expression I intended,
than by any other person I ever heard ; I allude
to Mr. Charles Calvert, the present Member for
South wark. Many and many a time have I heard
him sing it charmingly, and often have I enjoyed
his kind hospitality and social qualities. To Miss
Decamp I had also great obligations for the anima-
tion and spirit she infused into it.
Amongst other friends who used to favour me
with their company to dinner, was Signer Ferdi-
nando Mazzanti, a native of Rome, who had been
formerly a celebrated soprano singer in Italy and
Germany. Dr. Burney, in his Musical Tour,
speaks highly of his merits. He mentions him as a
great musician, and an eminent classical scholar.
When he first came to England he was sixty years
of age, and when I knew him was turned seventy.
He did not speak a word of English on his first
arrival in London, yet, strange as it may appear, for
a person at a period of life so advanced, in a very
few years he made himself master of the English
language, and was fully acquainted with most of
MICHAEL KELLY. 153
the works of our poets and dramatic writers. He
was very intimate with Mr. Swinburne, who for-
merly wrote a Tour of Italy, and gave instructions
in singing to his daughter, who afterwards married
Mr. Paul Benfield, on his return from India. Maz-
zanti was a most entertaining companion, possessed
a fund of wit a$ well as information, was full of
anecdote, and had a memory scarcely equalled.
He received an invitation from his friend Mr.
Swinburne, on his arrival in London, to stay with
him, which he accepted ; and he told me, that the
first time he ever went to an opera in England, the
performance was " The Beggar's Opera Travestied,"
at the Little Theatre in the Haymarket, which he
mistook for the Opera House in the same street.
The part of Polly upon that occasion was'represented
by the elder Bannister, who gave her tender airs
with all the power of his deep and sonorous bass
voice; and he told me that his astonishment and
horror were unspeakable, when he saw the part of
a young woman acted by an old man ; for he had
not been informed, nor did he even guess at the
time, that the part of Polly was burlesqued ; on the
contrary, he thought it had been so intended by the
author, and always so acted. A few nights after-
wards, he was asked to go and see the tragedy of
" Isabella," at Drury Lane. " No, no," said he,
H 5
154 REMINISCENCES OF
" I will not go to your theatres to see heroines acted
by old bass singers with beards ;" nor could he be
prevailed upon, for a long time, to attend any of
our theatrical exhibitions, in consequence of his
early disgust.
Mr. Taylor, of the Opera House, wished me (if
I could have got permission from Mr. Sheridan)
to go abroad and engage a first woman singer for
his theatre. I was one morning talking to Viganoni,
and mentioned Mr. Taylor's desire. " Indeed, 11
said Viganoni, " you need not go so far as Italy ;
you have only to go over the way to Badioli's shop,
and in his first floor you will find a most beautiful
woman, an excellent singer and admirable actress,
who only arrived in London from the Continent
late last night. 1 ' I communicated this intelligence
to Mr. Taylor, who requested me, as stage manager,
to wait upon her ; and, if I could hear her sing,
and approved of her, to offer her an engagement for.
the season.
The next day I waited on Madame Bolla, intro-
duced myself to her, and found her an accomplished
beautiful woman, without the slightest affectation.
I stated my business to her, she said she was very
willing to engage. On her piano-forte, there was,
amongst other music, a duet, which I asked her if
she would favour me so far as to sing with me. She
MICHAEL KELLY. ]55
replied, " Most willingly ; I perceive you wish to
hear me, before you engage me : and I think you
are perfectly right."
She sang the duet, and I was highly pleased.
She asked 800/. for the season. I acquainted Mr.
Taylor with her terms, and he ordered articles to be
drawn out, which I took to her the next day, and
which she immediately signed, and made her debut
in Paesiello's opera of "II Zingari in Fiera," and
met with the most decided success. She was perfect
mistress of the English language, and spoke it
fluently. She had been brought to England from
Milan when a child, and placed at school at Hamp-
stead, where she remained six years, returned to
Italy, and performed in all the principal theatres on
the Continent. She acted Lilla, in " The Siege of
Belgrade," at Drury Lane, for the benefit of Mrs.
Crouch, and gave all the points of the dialogue as
if she had been for years on the English stage, and
was received with just and merited applause.
On the 15th of May, 1800, (a memorable day, as
it afterwards proved,) I went to see His Majesty,
King George the Third, review the grenadier bat-
talion in Hyde Park. In firing one of the vollies,
a ball struck Mr. Ongley, a clerk in the Navy
Office, who was standing only a few paces from
the King. It was said, that had the wound been
two inches higher it must have been mortal. On
156 REMINISCENCES OF
the same evening, an event took place at Drury
Lane Theatre, which, combined with what had
occurred in the morning, gave the most serious
alarm. When the arrival of the King was an-
nounced, the band, as usual, played " God save the
King." I was standing at the stage-door, opposite
the royal box, to see His Majesty. The moment
he entered the box, a man in the pit, next the
orchestra, on the right hand, stood up on the bench,
and discharged a pistol at our august Monarch, as
he came to the front of the box. Never shall I for-
get His Majesty's coolness, the whole audience
was in an uproar. The King, on hearing the report
of the pistol, retired a pace or two, stopped, and
stood firmly for an instant ; then came forward to
the very front of the box, put his opera-glass to his
eye, and looked round the house, without the small-
est appearance of alarm or discomposure.
The late Marquis of Salisbury, then Lord Cham-
berlain, was behind His Majesty, in attendance in
the box ; and on hearing the report of the pistol,
fearing some further attack might follow, respect-
fully requested His Majesty would retire from the
box into the adjoining room. His Majesty's reply
to him was, " Sir, you discompose me as well as
yourself, I shall not stir one step." The Queen
and Princesses then entered the box. On ascend-
ing the staircase, the Queen asked Mr. Sheridan
MICHAEL KELLY. 157
what all the noise and uproar was about ? He
replied, it arose from some boys, who had been firing
off squibs. Hatfield, the ruffian who committed
the crime, was seized by the performers in the
orchestra, and dragged over its spikes into the
music-room, which was under the stage: the
audience from all parts vociferating, u Bring for-
ward the assassin, bring him on the stage shew
him, shew him."
I was at that moment on the stage. The Queen
called me to her, and asked me if the man was in
custody ; I told Her Majesty that he was secured.
I then came forward and addressed the audience,
assuring them, that the culprit was in safe custody,
undergoing an examination by His Royal Highness
the Duke of York, Mr. Sheridan, and Sir William
Addington ; but with the immense crowds about
the doors, and under the stage, in the confusion,
he might possibly escape, should they insist on
his being brought forward. This appeal pro-
duced tranquillity. " God save the King" was
then called for, and received with shouts of applause,
waving of hats, &c. During the whole of the play,
the Queen and Princesses were absorbed in tears ; it
was a sight never to be forgotten by those present.
At the end of the play, " God save the King" was
again demanded by the whole house ; and while we
were singing it, a paper was sent to me by Mr.
158 REMINISCENCES OF
Sheridan, with a verse which he had written on the
spur of the moment. It was handed to me by Mrs.
Jordan, and I sang it, although with an agitated
voice. It was as follows :
From every latent foe,
From the assassin's blow,
God save the King.
O'er him thine arm extend,
For Britain's sake defend
Our father, prince, and friend,
God save the King.
This stanza was three times repeated, with the
most rapturous approbation. His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales was assisting in the music-room
at the examination, and evinced the most anxious
solicitude and joy for the safety of his royal and
august father. The play was Gibber's comedy,
"She would, and she would not." Never was a
piece so hurried over, for the performers were all in
the greatest agitation and confusion. When it con-
cluded, His Majesty left the theatre, amidst the
shouts of the audience within, and the enthusiastic
cheers of the populace withou
I remember perfectly well, I had dined that day
with Mr. Frederick Walsh, in Fludyer Street, with
Lord Guilford, Sir Charles Bampfylde, and Mr.
Taylor of the Opera House. 1 was obliged to
MICHAEL KELLY. 159
leave the table almost as soon as we sat down, being
under the necessity of going to the theatre to sing
in " God save the King." Mr. Taylor (who was a
great joker) said, " Mark me, when that fellow
returns from the theatre, he will come to us with
some marvellous story in his mouth.*" When the
performance was over, I returned to Mr. Walsh's,
and found the party over their wine. I went into
the parlour and exclaimed, that the King had been
shot at, in the Theatre. Mr. Taylor burst into a
roar of laughter, saying, " Did not I tell you that
he would come back with some quiz in his mouth ?"
Nor could I for a long time convince them that what
I had said was truth ; so naturally improbable did it
appear, that so good and gracious a monarch should
have been exposed to the perils of assassination.
On the 29th of April, 1800, Miss BailhVs play
of " De Montfort" was produced at Drury Lane
Theatre. I composed the music : the scenery
was magnificent ; the cathedral scene, painted by
Capon, was a chef-cTceuvre ; it had also the support
of excellent acting. Mr. Kemble took every pains
in getting it up, but it would not suit the public
taste, and was withdrawn after a few nights.
On the 22nd of May, 1800, was produced, for
Banti^s benefit at the Opera House, an opera, en-
titled, " Zenobia and Arminia," the music composed
by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; some of it was
160 REMINISCENCES OF
extremely pretty, and did infinite credit to the
noble amateur, who is an excellent musician, and a
good counterpointist.
At Drury Lane, llth of December, 1800, was
revived, under the classical superintendence of John
Kemble, with great splendour of dresses and deco-
rations, Shakspeare's " King John. 11 Kemble acted
King John with great force and discrimination. In
my humble opinion it was one of his very best
characters ; his scene with Hubert was great indeed :
but what words can describe the magnificent perform-
ance of Mrs. Siddons, in Lady Constance ! By
those who have had the good fortune to witness it, I
am convinced it can never be forgotten. Charles
Kemble's Faulconbridge was, and is to this day, a
masterpiece. Miss Kelly was the representative of
Prince Arthur ; and although so very young at the
time, evinced a promise of future excellence which
she has most amply realised.
Mr. Sheridan called upon me one day, and said,
" Last night I was at Brookes's ; Charles Fox came
there with Lord Robert Spencer, they had both
been at Drury Lane to see * King John.' I asked
him if he was pleased with the performance. 11 He
replied, " that he was, particularly with Mrs.
Siddons. But, 1 ' he added, " there was a little girl
who acted Prince Arthur, with whom I was greatly
struck ; her speaking was so perfectly natural ; take
MICHAEL KELLY. 161
my word for it, Sheridan, that girl in time will be
at the head of her profession." Mr. Sheridan at
that period did not know that Miss Kelly was a
relation of mine ; but upon this favourable report,
went to see her, and told me that he perfectly agreed
with Mr. Fox ; and further said, " that he should
like to read the character of Monimia in the 6 Or-
phan,' to her; for, at some future day, he was
convinced she would act it admirably." Praise
from two such men, and such judges of the drama,
as Fox and Sheridan, must have been highly flat-
tering to any performer.
When Miss Kelly left Drury Lane, and went for
some time to act at Glasgow (where she was a great
favourite), Mrs. Siddons one day inquired after
her, as the promising girl who had performed with
her in " King John." I told Mrs. Siddons she was
gone to act in Scotland. " Well," said that incom-
parable actress, " I shall be glad to see her return
to Drury Lane, where she ought to be ; for, if she
continue to improve, I am much mistaken if she do
not become at some time a very conspicuous orna-
ment to her profession."
In February 1801, the popular play of " Deaf
and Dumb," was brought out at Drury Lane. Miss
DecampX John Kemble's, and Wroughton's acting
in this piece were, in my opinion, beyond all praise.
Mrs. Mountain sang a song, of my composing, in
162 REMINISCENCES OF
it, charmingly the poetry by Mr. M. G. Lewis ;
it was very popular, and always encored. This
piece was originally translated by Holcroft, and
afterwards altered and adapted to the English stage
by Kemble.
Mr. M. G. Lewis brought out, on the 4th of
May, 1801, at Drury Lane Theatre, his drama of
" Adelmorn the Outlaw, 1 ' to which I composed the
music. On the whole it was successful.
I had the pleasure this year to meet Mr. Thomas
Moore, the poet, at Mrs. Crouch's cottage in the
King's Road ; my brother Joseph introduced him
there. I was much entertained with his conversa-
tion, and cultivated his pleasing society; and, in
the course of our acquaintance, persuaded him to
write a musical afterpiece, for the Haymarket The-
atre. I engaged with Mr. Colman to compose the
music, and to perform in it. It was called " The
Gipsey Prince," and was performed for the first time
on the 24th of July, 1801 ; part of the poetry was
very pretty ; but the piece did not succeed, and was
withdrawn.
As a sample of the poetry, I subjoin a song, sung
by me, in the character of the Gipsey Prince :
" I have roam'd through many a weary round,
I have wandered East and West ;
Pleasure in every clime, I found,
But sought in vain for rest.
MICHAEL KELLY. 163
" When Glory sighs for othey climes,
I feel that one's too wide ;
And think a home which Love endears,
Is worth a world beside.
" The needle, thus, too rudely moved,
Wander'd unconscious where ;
Yet, having found the place it loved,
It, trembling, settled there."
The same year I entered into a new sort of specu-
lation, of which I will detail the particulars : It
will be remembered, that at the corner of Market
Lane, in Pah 1 Mall, there was an old house almost
falling, the lease of which (it had sixteen years
to run) was to be sold. The owner was Mr. Rice,
boxkeeper to the Little Theatre in the Haymarket.
Mr. Taylor, the proprietor of the Opera House,
suggested a plan to me, which, he said, he was
convinced would make my fortune ; namely, to
buy the lease of that house, put it into thorough
repair, and make a large shop in it, to sell my
own compositions. As a further temptation, he
told me that I should have a door opening to
the stage of the Opera House; and that all the
subscribers to the Opera, for the great conve-
nience of having a private passage, and easy
access to their carriages and sedan-chairs, would,
most willingly, subscribe two guineas a year each,
.
REMINISCENCES OF
which would amply reimburse me for the expense
attending it. And also, that by paying a por-
tion of the salaries of the opera composers from
abroad, I should have the music of the operas
and ballets' to publish, exclusively, for my own
emolument. And moreover, that being manager
of the Opera House, living, as it might be said,
under its roof, would be a great advantage to <
me, in attending rehearsals and performances ;
and, in being always on the spot where my ser-
vices were required. All these advantages were
very alluring; no situation cculd be better for a
music-shop ; in short, through Fancy's aid, I
hoped, in sixteen years, to be as rich as Croesus ;
but,
" Hope told a flattering tale."
Five hundred guineas were required for the
lease ; and, on a moderate calculation, a thou-
sand more to make the requisite alterations.
At this time, I had the distinguished honour
of attending His Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales, when he had music at Carlton House. I
humbly took the liberty to mention to His Royal
Highness the plan I had formed, to open a shop
for the sale of my own music, and to entreat his
royal opinion. He condescendingly gave his opi-
MICHAEL KELLY. 165
irion, that I was perfectly right : " For," graciously
added his Royal Highness, " in a commercial
' country like ours, nothing can be more creditable
than for a man to sell the produce of his own
abilities, or, indeed, of any other person's."
Sanctioned by such an opinion, I made up mv
mind ; and with the assistance of my good friend
I Moody (to which I have before alluded), I pur-
chased the lease of the house, and almost rebuilt it.
The expenditure was far beyond what I was led to
anticipate. However, I spared no cost, stocked
it well with other music, besides my own ; engaged
shopmen, porters, &c. and opened it to the public
on the 1st of January, 1802. The crowds of people
who came to purchase music, by way of bringing
me (as they said) good luck, were immense. The
subscription w r as opened, for the opera visitors to
get an easy access to their carriages. The ladies
subscribers said, it was delightful to have such
an accommodation. Most of them immediately
put down their names, but very few of them ever
put down their money, although there was a con-
siderable current expense attending it, for fires,
lighting, and extra servants.
I began to think I was not fitted for what I
had undertaken, and reflected on the proverb,
" the eye of the master fattens the horse." In-
deed, my occupations at Drury Lane, Covent
166 REMINISCENCES OF
Garden, and Haymarket, both as performer and
composer, besides being manager of the Italian
Opera, and musical director at Drury Lane and
the Little Theatre in the Haymarket, were quite
enough to engage any one man^s mind, without
entering into a business which required every
attention paid to it, from morning till night.
Too late, alas ! was I convinced of my error ;
but I was in for it, too deep to retract.
On the 22nd January, 1802, at Drury Lane
Theatre, the Honourable William Spencer pro-
duced a musical afterpiece, entitled " Urania."
The music of it was the joint production of his
brother, the Honourable John Spencer, and my-
self. I felt much honoured and flattered by the
association. Mr. Spencer, who was a scientific
writer and a sound musician, composed some
very good music for it. I had the pleasure of
being known to him at Vienna, when on his
travels. It is by his tasteful selection, I under-
stand, that the chacoone of Jomelli (which I
selected for the appearance of the Ghost in " The
Castle Spectre") was first introduced by him into
our churches, and known in all of them by the title
of " The Sanctus of Jomelli."
The dialogue in " Urania" was classically beau-
tiful, as well as the poetry. There was one song in
it sung by Mrs. Bland, (which was a great favourite,)
MICHAEL KELLY 167
entitled, " Nature with swiftness armed the horse ;"*
a liberal translation from Anacreon, written with
true poetic taste, to which I composed the music.
The scene of Urania's descent was entirely new to the
English stage, and produced an extraordinary effect.
The piece was received with uncommon applause.
I formerly had the pleasure of being often in the
society of Mr. William Spencer, at his own house,
and of meeting him at that of my friend, Mr. Wil-
liam Maddocks. Both these gentlemen were lovers
of the stage, encouragers and judges of the drama,
and of the chosen few who know the value of it,
under judicious regulations. Mr. William Mad-
docks possessed a large fund of wit and humour,
and wrote a farce for a private theatre to which he
belonged, which possessed much merit.
I often regretted, that Mr. William Spencer
did not continue to write for the stage. His
knowledge of various languages, particularly Ger-
man, would have furnished him with many good
subjects. He is also perfect master of Italian, and
well versed in all the poets of that enchanting
language.
Mrs. Billington returned to England this season,
after an absence of several years, and was en-
gaged at Drury Lane and Covent Garden, to per-
form a certain number of nights at each theatre.
At both she appeared in Mandane, in " Arta-
3
168 REMINISCENCES OF .
xerxes ;" she went through all her operatical cha-
racters, in all of which I performed with her. She
was received with rapturous applause, and on each
night drew crowded houses.
On the llth March. 1802, Drury Lane Theatre
was closed for the night. Francis, Duke of Bed-
ford, was buried on that day ; and, having been
ground-landlord of the theatre, this mark of respect
was paid to his memory.
On the 28th March, Mrs. Billington performed
" Merope, v at the Opera House, for Band's benefit,
who, on this occasion, appeared for the first time in
male attire. Curiosity was on tip- toe to hear these
two great singers, in the same opera, and the per-
formance drew an overflowing house. The worthy
Signor Zacharia Banti, to be sure of laying hold of
the money, had the pit-door barricadoed, and posted
himself there, with some of his friends. An im-
mense crowd had collected at the doors, before the
usual time of admission ; and on their being
opened, the rush was so great, that smash went
the barricade, which, together with the cautious
Signor Banti, was carried forward, money-boxes and
all, in the van of the crowd, to the very .extremity
of the pit.
Recovering himself, and getting on his legs, he
gazed around him, and in disappointed anguish
exclaimed, " O Santa Maria ! de pit full ! de gal-
2
MICHAEL KELLY. 169
2ery full ! all full and no money in de box ! What
will my Brigada my angel wife say, when I shall
have nothing in my box for her ?"
A similar circumstance happened at one of my
benefits at the Opera House, when Madame Cata-
lani did me the favour to sing for me ; the rush was
so great, that the doors were broken down, and the
pit crammed to excess : the return in money was
only S5Z. Of course, great numbers got into the
pit without paying ; and though an appeal was
made, and a request that those who had not paid,
would send the price of their admission to the box-
office the following day, not a single person sent ;
they seemed all to be of FalstafTs way of thinking,
" They did not like that paying back."
The same year my old friend, King, quitted the
Drury Lane stage, which he had trodden fifty-five
years an ornament to his profession.
Mrs. Billington had her benefit at Drury Lane,
30th April. On this occasion the opera of " Algo-
nah" was brought forward; 'the drama by Cobb,
the music by myself. The opera was successful,
though, on the first representation of it, poor Mrs.
Billington had a terrible fright; and no wonder,
poor thing, for at the end of the first act, wKb did
she find sitting in her dressing-room, but her be*-
loved husband, Monsieur de Felican, whom she
thought safe and snug at Venice, whence she had
VOL. II. I
170 IlEMIXISCENCES OF
escaped from him ; but he, good soul, was deeply in
love with her English guineas, and all at once
vowed he could no longer bear to be separated from
his beloved Bettina, as he called her.
Monsieilr Felican had been in the Commissariat
department, in Buonaparte's service; and having
laid strong siege to Mrs. Billington's affections, suc-
ceeded. He was a remarkably handsome man, and
(as Mrs. Billington told me), before marriage, a
most insinuating monster of meekness : but the very
first week after their union, the dove assumed the
h'erceness of the hawk. It was said, that he used to
treat her unmercifully ; and if she dared to com-
plain, plates, dishes, or any other moveable, were
thrown at her. Such was her story. I never
would have any communication with him. How it
was managed, I know not, but his stay in this
country was very short ; I have reason to believe,
that he had many weighty arguments put to him, to
hasten his departure. I never saw any woman so
much in awe of man, as poor Mrs. Billington of
him whom she had married for love.
At this period, Drury Lane was in a very bad
way, the actors 1 salaries were greatly in arrear.
Mr. Grubb, one of the proprietors, and Messrs.
llammersley, applied to the Lord Chancellor,
praying, that their demands on the theatre, with
those of the old and new renters, might be taken out
MICHAEL KELLY. 171
of the receipts before the performers were paid,
Sheridan resisted this; and the actors, one and all,
threatened to strike, if such an order were granted.
The cause came on before the Chancellor. Sheridan
pleaded his own cause against the whole Chancery-
bar, which was retained on the other side. In a
most elaborate and eloquent speech, he stated the
embarrassments of the theatre, the necessity of pay-
ing the performers, as no work could go on without
workmen : if they withdrew their services, the
doors must be closed, the property fall to pieces,
and general ruin ensue. From his eloquent tongue
persuasion flowed, and won the high debate. The
consequence was, that the performers gained the
day ; and an order was granted, that they should be
the first persons paid.
The Lord Chancellor, after passing a high eulo-
gium on Sheridan, quoted, in addressing him, (as I
was told, for I was not near enough to hear it,)
Doctor Johnson's last lines in the " Life of Sa-
vage." " Negligence and irregularity, long con-
tinued, make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and
genius contemptible."
I thought at the time, that the quotation might
have been spared, and that it was perhaps harsh to
speak truth at all times. However, he left the
Court amidst the loud congratulations and admira-
tion of his friends, and the envy and discomfiture
REMINISCENCES OF
of his enemies. He walked with me to my house in
Pall Mall, where he dined, and told me that he
should have spoken better, if I had not kept him
up so late the night before. I was so happy and
delighted, that I could not help reminding him of
Mr. Pitt's eulogium on him, during Warren Has-
tings's trial. That illustrious statesman designated
Mr. Sheridan's speech, on that occasion, as u an
astonishing effort of eloquence, wit, and argument
united ; surpassing all the eloquence of ancient and
modern times, and possessing every thing that
genius and art could furnish to agitate and controul
the human mind." For although Mr. Sheridan was
a follower of Mr. Fox in politics, Mr. Pitt had the
liberality to pay the above tribute to his talent and
genius.
In the month of July 1802, Viganoni and I set
off in a post-chaise for Dover, and got on board a
packet for Calais ; we were four-and- thirty hours at
sea ; among the passengers, were Lady Carhampton
and Mr. Lewis Goldsmith, whom I had the plea-
sure of knowing. We got to Nampont at night,
where I sat upon the very bench which Sterne men-
tions in his " Sentimental Journey ;" and, all the
time, I could think of nothing but the " poor old
man and his dead ass." When we got to Paris,
we went to an excellent hotel, in the Rue Neuve
St. Marc. On going past the Thuilleries, on ou.r
MICHAEL KELLY. 173
way to dinner, over the gate, in the Place Carousel,
the first objects which caught my eye, and grieved
my heart, were my old friends the horses, which I
used so much to admire in the Piazza St. Marc, at >/
Venice. Then they were of bronze, the pride of
the Venetians ; and to have had them gilt, seemed
to me like sacrilege.
There were (at this short period, we were at peace
with France) a vast number of English in Paris,
amongst whom, I had the pleasure to be known and
noticed by Lord Erskine, Mrs. Darner, Mr. and
Mrs. Fox, Lord and Lady Holland, whose conde-
scension I always experienced, whenever I had the
honour of meeting them. There were also in Paris
my very kind friend, the Earl of Guilford, the
Honourable Mrs. and Miss St. Leger, with Doctor
Mousley, on their way to Barege, to drink the
waters. Viganoni took me with him to a friend of /
his, in the Place Carousel, to see the First Consul, V
Buonaparte, review the troops. It was a magni-
ficent sight. He was mounted on his charger, in a
plain blue coat, white pantaloons, and a plain cocked
hat ; and close to him, mounted on a fine Arabian
horse, his favourite Mameluke, who seemed an
admirable horseman. All the general officers on
the ground wore rich and splendid uniforms. The
contrast was great between their gorgeous attire-
ments and the simple costume of the littk great
REMINISCENCES OF
man, who seemed perfectly conscious of his adven-
titious superiority.
On my return from the review, I met my worthy
friends, John Kemble and Mr. Robert Heathcote,
in the Rue Richelieu we agreed to dine together,
and go in the evening to the Theatre Francois, .to
see Talma act Orestes, in " The Distressed Mo-
ther." I was much pleased with the performance
of that great actor ; but there was a scene performed
in the front of the house more curious to an
Englishman. Charles Fox, accompanied by his lady,
and some male friends, occupied a box in the first tier.
After thefirst actof theplay, there was a buzz through
the parterre, that Charles Fox was in the house ;
the moment it was known, there was a general call
from the parterre, for him to come forward and shew
himself. The cry from all parts of the house was,
" Monsieur Fox ! Monsieur Fox ! come forward,
we want to see you. r> For several minutes he was
deaf to the call, but the audience seemed determined
not to let the performance go on, until he did ; for
Mr. Fox was as naturally a favourite with the
revolutionary French, as Mr. Pitt was the contrary.
At length his friends pushed him forward. The
moment he appeared, there was very general
applause, which continued for some time, he bowing
most respectfully to the audience.
Just as the applause ceased, Buonaparte, accon>-
MICHAEL KELLY. 175
panied by some of his officers, entered his box,
which was vis-a-vis to the one Fox occupied. On
his entree he was received with the clapping of a few
hands. He seemed somewhat dissatisfied with his
reception ; at all events, he did not remain above a
quarter of an hour in the box, and left it without
taking the slightest notice of the audience.
The next day the First Consul held a grand
levee at the Thuilleries, and all the English were
presented to him, myself excepted ; but though I
was not there in proprid persona, my opera hat
was ; for my Lord Guilford, not having his own with
him, borrowed mine, which many a time and oft
I had worn on the stage when acting Captain
Macheath. On the day of the levee I dined with
Lord Guilford, who gave me an account of his
reception.
He was introduced by the Prefet du Palais as
Lord Guilford, son of Lord North, at one time
prime minister of His Britannic Majesty. i
Buonaparte, darting one of his spiteful looks \j
at him, said, " My Lord, your father was a very
great man;"" and, turning to the Marshal, said,
sneeringly, " Was it not he who lost America for
England ? yes, he was a very great man indeed ;"
then turning upon his heel, he walked on.
The vulgar rudeness and uncalled for imperti-
176 REMINISCENCES OF
nence of the remark, were received by the noble
Earl with contemptuous silence.
I saw Buonaparte one evening at the Italian
Opera : the performance was Paesiello's " Nina,"
in which Rovedino and Viganoni both sang, parti-
cularly a duet, with which Buonaparte seemed
much pleased. Josephine was in the box, and
appeared a charming woman, He was very atten-
tive to her throughout the performance, although
he afterwards divorced her for his personal conveni-
ence. He was very partial to Paesiello's music, and
sent to Naples for him, gave him an appointment of
two thousand louis a year, excellent apartments in
the Thuilleries, and a carriage, with servants who
had permission to wear the Buonaparte livery.
Acts like these pass for liberality and magnanimity
in a Corsican tyrant. What would the English
nation say, if an English monarch ventured to do
such a thing ?
The composer and eminent teacher, Signer
Ferrari, who resided many years in London, was in
Paris at this period, and visited his old master
Paesiello daily. I requested him to introduce me
into Paesiello's apartments without mentioning my
name, and accordingly was ushered up stairs ; and
when I came to the drawing-room door, where
Paesiello and Signora Luigia his wife were, I sang
MICHAEL KELLY. 177
on the outside, the favourite song which he had
composed for me at Vienna ; and although fifteen
years had elapsed since he wrote it, he recollected
the tone of my voice, opened the door, and embraced
me, saying, " Bene venuto, mio caro O^Kelly." I
stopped with him and dined, and passed a charming
day.
Twice or thrice a week during my stay, I dined
with Madame Montansier, in the Palais Royal.
This lady was the proprietress of two theatres, the
Italian Opera and the Comic Theatre, named after
her, the Theatre Montansier, in the Palais Royal.
I frequented all the theatres, but chiefly the Fey-
deau, to hear those excellent singers, and actors,
EUivien and Martin. At this period they were
acting " La Maison a vendre." The once beautiful
Madame Dugazzon played the Old Lady in it, nor
did she think herself degraded by it. Another piece,
which was a great favourite of the Parisians, was
" La Folie." I procured both these operas, and
brought them to London. " La Maison a vendre"
I gave to Mr. Cobb, who brought it out at Drury
Lane, under the title of " A House to be Sold ;"
and " La Folie" to George Colman, who produced
it at the Haymarket Theatre, under the title of
" Love laughs at Locksmiths," and an excellent
inorceau it was rendered by his masterly genius ;
indeed, far superior to the French drama. The
i5
178 REMINISCENCES OF
original music of both pieces was very good, but not
calculated for an English audience ; I therefore
recomposed the whole of the music for them. Both
pieces met with prodigious success on our stage,
but particularly " Love laughs at Locksmiths,"
which is, to the present time (1824), a great fa-
vourite.
I was invited by Monsieur Ellivien, to dine with
him at his hotel in the Rue Mirabeau. Viganoni
was asked to meet me. I was unknown to our
host as a performer, and was introduced to him
by Rovedino, as his friend, who was also of the
party. After dinner, I was saying to my host,
that I thought if he had seen " Richard Cceur de
Lion," and " Lodoiska," as performed in London,
he would have been pleased ; he laughed, and said,
it was out of the nature of things, that such music
as " Richard Cceur de Lion," and " Lodoiska,"
could be sung by English singers, who, to his ears,
were detestable ; that he had been in London the
last summer, for two days, that he went to the
theatre, and was quite disgusted with the vulgarity
of the performers. In the course of conversation, I
found that he had obtained leave from the Paris
theatre to come to England for a week or ten days,
to liberate a great friend of his, who was confined in
the King's Bench for debt ; that he was taken to an
hotel, near Westminster Bridge, and that the only
MICHAEL KELLY. 179
theatre he went to, was Astley's ; and from the
performances he heard there, he had formed his
opinion of all English music, and English singers.
Ellivien has since married a rich widow, and retired
from the stage.
Paris, to me, always appeared a delightful place.
I had many friends, was free of the principal
theatres, and found it, by one half, less expensive
than Brighton or Margate. I found the people,
generally speaking, courteous, attentive, and
obliging.
After breakfast, one morning, on the Boulevards,
I was reading the bills of the different theatres,
stuck against the walls ; in order to fix upon the
one I should visit in the evening ; when near me, I
observed, similarly occupied, a tall elderly man,
seemingly without a shirt, with a pipe in his mouth,
a greasy red woollen night-cap on his head, a coat
in tatters, and, to judge from appearances below, a
true sans culotte. After having made me a low
bow, he said, in very good French, " Apparently,
Sir, you are a stranger in Paris, and are examining
the play bills, to choose the best performance to go
to, to-night. Amongst those announced, for my
own part, I should prefer the * AthahV of Racine ;
the choruses are superb; and the music by Rameau,
though of the old style, is magnificent. The last
time I heard it was on the night the Grand Opera
House on the Boulevards was burned down. If
180 REMINISCENCES OF
you are a lover of music, I would advise you to go
and hear it ; I shall go there myself this evening."
Saying which, he made me a low bow, and walked
away, wishing me much pleasure from hearing Ra-
cine's " Athalie."
Some people might call the poor ragged admirer
of Racine and Rameau, intrusive ; for my part I
took his remarks for disinterested politeness, for he
neither knew me, nor wanted any thing of me ; and
as a proof of the generality of taste and information
amongst the French, I think the anecdote worthy
of notice.
Mr. Biggin, who was once called in London the
handsome Biggin, and who ascended in a balloon
from Sloane Street, with the pretty Mrs. Sage, was
at that time in Paris : he was a literary man, and
had a great taste for the fine arts. He was ap-
pointed, by Mr. Taylor, his trustee for the Opera
House, during the period that Lord Kinnaird and
Mr. Sheldon managed that concern. In conjunc-
tion with Mr. Biggin, I engaged the celebrated
Winter, to compose three Italian operas, and three
grand ballets, for our Opera. I agreed to pay half
his salary for the exclusive right of publishing his
music for my own emolument ; and had I not been
pillaged, that engagement alone would have been a
fortune to me, so popular were his works, and so
very extensive the sale of them.
I left Viganoni in Paris to finish his engagement,
MICHAEL KELLY. 181
and returned to England with Mr. Small, a young
Irish singing master settled in London, who had
been a scholar of the celebrated Millico at Naples,
and was a very pleasant fellow.
On the 25th October, 1802, the burletta of
" Midas"' was revived at Drury Lane Theatre, with
unqualified approbation. It had a run, the first
season, of twenty-seven nights. From my earliest
days, I was fond of the music of " Midas, 1 ' which,
in my humble opinion, is delightful. It was en-
tirely selected by Kane O'Hara, who was a dis-
tinguished musical amateur ; his adaptations were
not alone elegant and tasteful, but evinced a thorough
knowledge of stage effect. I have heard him, when
a boy, sing at his own house in Dublin, with ex-
quisite humour, the songs of Midas, Pan, and
Apollo's drunken song of, " Be by your friends ad-
vised, too harsh, too hasty Dad." When I acted
the part of Apollo at Drury Lane, I formed my
style of singing and acting that song from the recol-
lection of his manner of singing it*.
* O'Hara was so remarkably tall, that, among his intimate
friends iu Ireland, he was nick-named St. Patrick's Steeple.
Atone time, Giardini's Italian glee was extremely popular, and
sung every where, in public, and in private. The words in
Italian are,
" Viva tutte le vezzose
Donne, amabile, amorose,
the non hanao crudeltiu"
REMINISCENCES OF
The simple and pretty melody of, " Pray Goody,
please to moderate the rancour of your tongue,"
(before I sang it at Drury Lane,) was always sung
in a quick jig time ; it struck me, that the air
would be better slower, and I therefore resolved to
sing it in the " andantino grazioso" style, and added
a repetition of the last bars of the air, which I
thought would give it more stage effect. When I
rehearsed it the first time, as I had arranged it,
Mr. Kemble was on the stage, who, with all the
performers in the piece, as well as the whole band
in the orchestra, una voce, declared, that the song
ought to be sung in quick time, as it ever had been ;
but I was determined to try it my own way, and I
did so : and during the run of the piece, it never
missed getting a loud and unanimous encore. When
" Midas" was revived at Covent Garden Theatre,
it was sung by Mr. Sinclair in the exact time in
which I sang it, and with deserved and additional
success. It is not, I believe, generally understood,
that Rousseau was the composer of it.
It was parodied, and for the last line
" Che non hanno crudeltk,"
they substituted this,
" Kane CPKard's cruel tall :"
a combination of sounds which, from early association, I am
unable entirely to overcome whenever I hear the glee.
MICHAEL KELLY. 183
On the 17th November, " A House to be Sold,"
was brought out at Drury Lane, and received with
much applause. Bannister and Miss Decamp were
excellent in their parts, so were Stiett and Wewitzer ;
and I acted in it the Manager of an Italian Opera ;
the piece had a run of several nights. There was
a supper scene, in which I was obliged to eat part
of a fowl. Bannister told me, at rehearsal, what
then I could hardly believe, that it was very difficult /
to eat and swallow food on the stage. But, strange
as it may appear, I found it a fact, for I could not
get down a morsel ; my embarrassment was a great
source of fun to Bannister and Suett, who were both
gifted with the accommodating talent of stage
feeding ; whoever saw poor Suett in the Lawyer, in
" No Song, no Supper," tucking in his boiled leg of
lamb ; or in the " Siege of Belgrade," will be little
disposed to question my testimony to the fact.
The next novelty at Drury Lane, was an historical
musical drama, called the " Hero of the North,"
produced on the 19th February, 1803. I composed
the music, and also performed in it. It was re-
ceived with distinguished applause.
On the 16th of May, I went to see the first
appearance of my friend Mathews, at the Hay-
market, in the characters of Jabel, in Cumberland's
comedy of the " Jew," and Lingo, in the " Agree-
able Surprise :" he was received by a crowded house
184 REMINISCENCES OF
with unanimous applause. He came from the York
Theatre, where he had been a distinguished favourite
of the eccentric Tate Wilkinson (who knew well
how to value his talents), as well as of the York
audience, and the other theatres of the circuit he
belonged to.
He married a favourite pupil of Mrs. Crouch's,
a Miss Jackson, who is half-sister of Miss Fanny
Kelly ; she had a sweet voice, was extremely pretty,
with a beautiful figure ; possessing amiable manners,
and good sense. Mrs. Crouch recommended her
strenuously to Tate Wilkinson, as his first singer,
and she was very successful. Her exemplary
conduct, and unassuming deportment, induced the
principal people in Yorkshire to take great notice
of her, and introduce her into the best society. She
there became the second wife of Mat hews; and,
having accompanied him to London, made her first
appearance at the Haymarket, in 1803, as Emma,
in " Peeping Tom ;" her debut was very successful,
and she continued for several years to fill many of
the principal vocal characters at that theatre and
Drury Lane. She has now retired from the stage,
and plays her part in private life, in a manner
which secures her the esteem and affection of all
who know her.
On the 25th July, Colman produced his trans-
lation from " La Folie," of u Love laughs at Lock-
MICHAEL KELLY. 185
smiths," for which I composed the music. It was
very strongly cast, and well represented in all its
parts. Elliston's Captain Beldair was full of buoyant
gaiety. Mathews's Risk was an inimitable piece of
acting ; he had two songs, " The Farm Yard," and
" Miss Bailey," both of which were always encored ;
" Miss Bailey" was a universal favourite, and the
piece ran the whole of the season.
Mrs. Billington and I were engaged this year by
Mr. Francis Aickin, for Edinburgh and Liverpool.
Accompanied by her brother, Charles Weichsell, we
left London in a post coach and four for Liverpool.
Her fame drew crowded houses every night during
a fortnight. " Artaxerxes" was performed several
nights; she was the Mandane, I, the Artabanes,
and Miss Duncan (now Mry. Davison) the Arbaces;
and it was really surprising how well that lady sang
and acted the part, considering that she had never
been accustomed to recitative. I took a great deal
of pains to instruct her, and was highly repaid,
by her assiduity and truly amiable manners.
In my intercourse with theatrical ladies, I never
met with more equanimity of temper and good
nature than in Mrs. Davison. Her mother was
then with her, and played the old ladies in comedy
and opera extremely well, and bore the character of
an excellent parent, and kind-hearted woman.
Mrs. Billington and I took our benefits, and both
186 REMINISCENCES OF
had crowded houses. After finishing our engage-
ments at Liverpool, we went to Edinburgh. On
our way thither we passed through Dunbar, where
we dined; but, when we offered to pay the inn-
keeper his bill, he refused English Bank notes, and
informed us, that they would be of no use to us on
the road, as they would not be taken at any of the
inns between Dunbar and Edinburgh. The reason
he gave was, that a few days previous, a gentleman
and lady, who came in their carriage, had paid
their bill with a forged ten-pound note ; and at all
the inns, till they got to Edinburgh, defrayed their
expenses by changing forged five and ten pound
notes. So that with a quantum siifficit of bank
notes in our pocket, we were absolutely in pawn at
a little Scotch inn. Weichsell and I went to a
banker's in the place (who, by the way, kept a
whiskey shop), and told him our situation ; he
turned out to be a good kind of fellow, and agreed
to advance us 25Z. in Scotch Bank notes, on our
depositing 100/. English until we returned them.
This bargain, singular as it may sound, we were
forced to make, and accordingly restored his pro-
vincial paper, when we got to Edinburgh. When
we arrived in the Scotch metropolis it was the time
of Leith races, and the place was crowded, as was
the theatre nightly.
We were most hospitably entertained at that
MICHAEL KELLY. 187
beautiful sea-bathing place, Musselburgh, by Mrs.
Esten, (the present Mrs. Scott Waring,) who had
then quitted the stage, of which she had been a dis-
tinguished ornament; she had a lovely, amiable,
and highly-accomplished daughter, since married,
to whom I had the pleasure of giving lessons in
singing.
Mrs. Powell, of Drury Lane Theatre, was at
Edinburgh ; I accompanied her in a carriage to the
races. Amongst the throng of fashionables, on the
Sands, was the present King of France, on horse-
back, who was then residing at Holyrood House.
He came up to the carriage in which we were, and
discoursed nearly an hour with us, with the most
condescending affability.
After reaping a golden harvest, in the fields of
Thespis, we took leave of Scotland, and agreed, on
our way to London, to play two nights at New-
castle. Stephen Kemble was the manager, who
received us kindly, and we had two overflowing
audiences. It was at Newcastle, I first had the
pleasure of meeting that genuine child of Momus,
Liston; and, on my return to London, strongly
recommended Messrs. Sheridan and Richardson to
engage him for Drury Lane : but procrastination
was their motto ; and it is to George (Dolman's dis-
cernment, that the public are indebted for the in-
valuable acquisition of Listen's unrivalled talents to
188 REMINISCENCES OF
the London stage: he made his first appearance in
Zekiel Homespun, in the " Heir at Law," at the
Haymarket Theatre (14th June, 1805).
I this year had the pleasure of spending some
weeks in Wales, with my kind friend Mr. William
Haddocks, M.P. at his beautiful seat at Tre Mad-
dock, where there was a large party of ladies and
gentlemen assembled. All was hospitality, frolic,
and fun, which the brilliant wit of our host con-
tributed in a great degree to promote. We had
horse-racing, balls, concerts, plays, and every kind
of amusement.
Mrs. Billington was engaged this year as prima
donna at the Opera House. She made her first
appearance in the serious opera of " Ferdinand in
Mexico," by Nassolini, a charming composer ; and
in the month of May, Winter composed, expressly
for her, the opera of " Calypso," the music of
which she sang delightfully, and looked the charac-
ter divinely.
My next musical production at Drury Lane, was
" Cinderella ; or, the Glass Slipper." The piece
was written by a Mr. James ; the story was well
told in action, and the poetry of the songs appro-
priate. I was rather fortunate in composing the
music. The scenery, machinery, and decorations,
were profusely splendid ; and nothing could surpass
the fine acting of Miss Decamp, as Cinderella. It
MICHAEL KELLY. 189
was produced in January 1804, and performed,
daring its first season, fifty-one nights.
In the midst of all the eclat and success of this
season, I had returned my income to the Commis-
sioners of Income Tax, at 5007. per annum, which,
it appeared, they did not think a sufficient return,
and sent me a summons to appear before them on
their next day of meeting. In consequence of re-
ceiving this, I consulted a kind friend, who was my
counsellor on all occasions, who advised me, if I felt
myself justified by the truth, to adhere firmly to the
amount which I had at first fixed. He promised
to accompany me, which he did, and was witness
to the following conversation between the Commit
sioners and myself:
" So, Mr. Kelly ," said one of the men of autho-
rity, " you have returned your income to us, at
500/. per annum : you must have a very mean
opinion of our understandings, Sir, to think that
you could induce us to receive such a return, when
we are aware that your income, from your various
professional engagements, must amount to twice or
three times that sum/ 1
" Sir," 1 said I, " I am free to confess I have
erred in my return ; but vanity was the cause, and
vanity is the badge of all my tribe. I have returned
myself as having 500Z. per annum, when, in fact, J
have not five hundred pence of certain income.""
190 REMINISCENCES OF
" Pray, Sir," said the Commissioner, " are you
not stage-manager of the Opera House ?"
" Yes, Sir," said I ; " but there is not even a
nominal salary attached to that office ; I perform its
duties to gratify my love of music."
u Well, but Mr. Kelly," continued my examiner,
" you teach ?"
" I do. Sir," answered I ; " but I have no
pupils."
" I think," observed another gentleman, who
had not spoken before, " that you are an oratorio
and concert singer ?"
" You are quite right," said I to my new anta-
gonist ; " but I have no engagement."
"Well, but at all events," observed my first
inquisitor, " you have a very good salary at Drury
Lane."
" A very good one, indeed, Sir," answered I ;
" but then it is never paid. 1 '
" But you have always a fine benefit, Sir,"
said the other, who seemed to know something of
theatricals.
" Always, Sir," was my reply ; " but the ex-
penses attending it are very great, and whatever
profit remains after defraying them, is mortgaged
to liquidate debts incurred by building my saloon.
The fact is, Sir, I am at present very like St.
George's Hospital, supported by voluntary contri-
MICHAEL KELLY. 191
butions ; and have even less certain income, than I
felt sufficiently vain to return."
This unaffected expose made the Commissioners
laugh, and the affair ended by their receiving my
return. The story is not very dissimilar to one
told of the celebrated Home Tooke, who, having
returned to some Commissioners under the same
Act, his income at two hundred pounds per annum,
was questioned much in the same manner as myself;
till at last one of the inquisitors said,
" Mr. Home Tooke, you are trifling with us
sadly ; we are aware of the manner in which you
live, the servants you keep, the style you maintain ;
this cannot be done for five times the amount you
have returned. What other resources have you ?"
" Sir," said Home Tooke, " I have, as I have
said, only two hundred pounds a year; whatever
else I get, I beg, borrow, or steal ; and it is a per^
feet matter of indifference to me to which of those
three sources you attribute my surplus income."
And thus ended the examination.
On the 5th December of this year, Mr. Rey-
nolds, the prolific dramatist, produced a musical
afterpiece at Drury Lane, entitled " The Caravan ;
or, the Driver and his Dog." There was some
pretty music in it, composed by Reeve, and it had
a very great run, and brought much money to the
treasury. The chief attraction of the piece was a
3
REMINISCENCES OF
dog called Carlo; and when he leaped into some real
water and saved a child, the most unbounded tu-
mults of applause followed. It was truly astonish-
jng how the animal could have been so well trained
to act his important character.
One day Mr. Sheridan having dined with me, we
went to see the performance of this wonderful dog :
as we entered the green-room, Dignum (who played
in the piece) said to Mr. Sheridan, with a woeful
countenance, " Sir, there is no guarding against
illness, it is truly lamentable to stop the run of a
successful piece like this ; but really" " Really
what ?" cried Sheridan, interrupting him,
" I am so unwell," continued Dignum, " that I
cannot go on longer than to-night."
" You !" exclaimed Sheridan, " my good fellow,
you terrified me ; I thought you were going to say
that the dog was taken ill."
Poor Dignum did not relish this reply half so
much as the rest of the company in the green-room
did.
In the year 1804 the Opera House was opened by
Mr. Francis Goold, who had been a schoolfellow of
mine at the Rev. Dr. Burke's academy in Dublin ;
he had passed the greatest part of his life on the
Continent, and was extremely well acquainted with
the arts, and theatrical matters in particular. He
was well suited for the management of an extensive
1
MICHAEL KELLY. 193
theatre, and knew music scientifically; and was,
moreover, a truly honest, friendly man. From the
day of his entering on the management, until the
day of his death, I was his stage-manager, his con-
fidential friend and adviser.
He had the merit of engaging, for his prima
donna, the celebrated Grassini, who made her first
appearance in the serious opera of "La Virgine del
Sole :" she possessed a fine counter-tenor voice, the
lower tones of which were sublimely pathetic. In
the sweet duet composed by Meyer, " Parto, ti las.
cio," 11 with Viganoni, she was delightful. The
melody of the effective grand chorus, " Qual error, 1 " 1
in the opera, was extolled by the amateurs for its
peculiar beauty and originality. The production of
this melody by Meyer is rather curious, as it was re-
counted to me by Madame Grassini herself. Meyer,
while composing the opera of " La Virgine del Sole,"
at Venice, was at a supper party, where a young
Englishman was present ; after supper there was
some singing, and the young Englishman was asked
to sing in his turn ; he sang .the Scotch ballad to
O 1 Keefe 1 s words, in the musical entertainment of
<< Peeping Tom/ 1 " Pretty Maud, pretty Maud/ 1
Meyer was so pleased with the melody that he got
pen and ink, and having requested to hear it again,
wrote it down ; and from that simple melody, pro-
duced the effective chorus in question.
VOL. II. K
11EM1NISCENCES OF
Grassini was an admirable actress, and a beauti-
ful woman ; her merits obtained for her the society
and countenance of people of the highest rank in
this country. Mrs. Siddons, amongst others, has
often been heard to express her admiration of her
acting, and has repeatedly visited the Opera ex-
pressly to see her action ; and she once told Grassini
so.
When she was a performer at the theatre of St.
Carlos at Naples, and a great favourite there, in
the year 1796, she was honoured by the patronage
of His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, whose
name, in the various countries through which he has
travelled, will be remembered with gratitude by
those artists whom he liberally supported and pro-
tected.. His Royal Highness is a perfect linguist,
an excellent judge of music, and sings with taste.
I have often had the honour of being admitted into
his society, and always found him full of conde-
scending good nature and affability.
The grand triumph of the Opera House, how-
ever was, when Mrs. Billington and Grassini sang
together in " II Ratto di Proserpina, 1 " 1 composed ex-
pressly by Winter, for those two beautiful women
and exquisite performers. The charming duet, sung
by them, " Vagi colli," was always loudly encored ;
the beautiful trio, also sung by them, accompanied
by Viganoni, the cavatina, " Che faro senza la
MICHAEL KELLY. 1Q5
madre ?" in which Grassini's fine pathos shone so
conspicuous, and Mrs. Billington's brilliantly exe-
cuted air, " Apri la madre ii core,*" will ever be
remembered by the musical world ; indeed, the
whole of the opera was admirable, and Winter's
chef-d'oeuvre ; he had only three weeks to write it,
and to keep his time, had the able assistance of his
countryman, Mr. Cramer, the excellent master of
His Majesty's private band, as well as composer.
He instrumented a great part of the opera ; and in
what he did, proved himself perfectly competent to
the task.
The attraction of the beautiful Proserpine (Gras-
sini), and her mother, the lovely Ceres (Billington),
drew great houses. " II Ratto di Proserpina" was
the only opera in which these theatrical divinities
appeared together ; for Mr. Goold, contrary to all
advice, engaged them on condition that (with the
exception of the one opera,) they should appear
singly, on alternate Tuesdays and Saturdays ; and
it was a sine qua non witli these goddesses, that
their Saturdays should be held sacred ; for, strange
as it may appear, (such is the power of fashion)
with the same performers and the same opera in the
game week, I have known five hundred pounds
taken at the doors on the Saturday, and the Tues-
day's receipts under sixty. If any thing were want-
ing to prove the influence of fashion, and how very
196 REMINISCENCES OF
secondary, after all, the attraction of talent at that
theatre is, this fact perhaps would be decisive.
This silly engagement had, one Tuesday night,
nearly shut up the house. It was Mrs. Billington's
turn to perform, but she was taken with so severe a
hoarseness that she could not sing a note, nor,
indeed, leave her bed. Grassini was entreated by
Mr. Goold to sing in her stead, but she declared
that no power on earth should induce her to do so,
as Saturday was her night, and not Tuesday. I did
all in my power, by every argument, to prevail upon
her, but the inexorable Syren was deaf to my en-
treaties. I found there was no method to gain my
point but by a ruse de guerre, and to fib through
thick and thin.
Fibbing, as I delicately call it, is a necessary
accomplishment for the stage-manager of an Italian
Opera House ; without it, one of the most difficult
and necessary objects could never be attained, (I
mean, keeping the ladies quiet). The art is only
to be acquired by practice, aided by a certain pro-
portion of impudence; in neither of which I was
altogether deficient. For .instance, I said, upon
this occasion, " My dear Grassini, as manager I
ought to prevail upon you to perform, but as a
performer myself, I enter certainly into your feel-
ings, and think you perfectly right not to sing out
of your turn the Saturday is yours but what I
MICHAEL KELLY. 197
say to you, I trust you will not repeat to Mr*'
Goold, as it might be of serious injury to me."
" Depend upon it, my dear Kelly," said Grassini,
" I will not ; I look upon you, by what you have
just said, to be my sincere friend."
As I was leaving the room, I said, " To be sure,
it is rather unlucky you do not sing to-night, for
this morning a message came from the Lord Cham-
berlain's Office, to announce the Queen's intention
to come incog., accompanied by the Princesses, pur-
posely to see you perform ; and a loge grillee is
actually ordered to be prepared for them, where
they can perfectly see and hear without being seen
by the audience ; but of course, I'll step, myself, to
the Lord Chamberlain's Office, and state that you
are confined to your bed, and express your mortifi-
cation at disappointing the Royal Party."
" Stop, Kelly," said she ; " what you now say
alters the case; if Her Majesty Queen Charlotte
wishes to see " La Virgine del Sole," and to hear
me, I am bound to obey Her Majesty's commands :
go, then, to Goold, and tell him I will sing."
She accordingly did perform on the Tuesday.
When I went into her dressing-room after the first
act, Her Majesty not having arrived, Grassini,
suspecting that I had made up a story to cajole her,
taxed me with the trick, and when I confessed it,
she took it very good naturedly, and joined in the
198 REMINISCENCES OF
laugh at her own credulity. The feeling of respect
to the wishes of our excellent Queen Charlotte which
she evinced, did her infinite credit.
On the 3rd July, 1804, I produced a musical
piece, called " The Hunter of the Alps." It was a
very pleasing drama, and was received with the great-
est applause, having run thirty nights the first sea-
son ; it is occasionally acted even now at different
theatres. Independent of its merit, the admirable
acting of Elliston must have ensured its success.
I must here observe, that Harry Horrebow, when
in his fifth year, played the Boy ; and his bye-play
with Elliston was excellent, and always received
with laughter and applause. He is the son of Cap-
tain Horrebow, of the Danish naval East India
Service. His mother is a sister of Mrs. Crouch.
She married while very young, and very handsome,
and went to India with her husband; and his
ship having been wrecked on the Indian coast, she
appeared professionally at the Calcutta Theatre,
then under the management of Mr. Rundell, a
favourite actor, and near relation of Mrs. Bannis-
ter. Mrs. Horrebow subsequently returned to
England with a small independence.
Harry Horrebow performed also in a Grand
Ballet at the Opera House, and in a Ballet of Action
at Covent Garden Theatre, entitled " Aggression !"
The piece was chiefly indebted, for its reception,
MICHAEL KELLY. 199
to the fine acting of Mrs.J3t. Leger. Little Harry
was her son in the piece ; she held him aloft in one
hand, while she fought her assailant with a toma-
hawk. The whole of the action was picturesque
and beautiful, and always ardently applauded.
Harry's performance in one scene, in which he was
preparing his bow and arrow for action, was as
beautiful as any thing ever seen on the stage.
One of those whimsical errors, which in my coun-
trymen are called blunders, occurred on the first
representation of " The Hunter of the Alps, 11 which
is sufficiently whimsical to be recorded here.
It was rumoured (why, it would be difficult to say)
that a party had been made to oppose the piece at
its production ; and I told the circumstance to an
intimate friend, an Irish gentleman, who took fire
at the bare mention of such under-handed treachery.
" Just give me, 11 said he, " half a dozen orders,
and I'll send in a few regular Geary Owen boys,
who shall take their shilelahs under their arms ;
and we'll see who'll be after trying to hiss your
music."
I accordingly furnished him with the necessary
passports ; and, being quite aware of the presence
of my adherents, sat in perfect security during the
performance, although it must be confessed I occa-
sionally heard the discordant whizzings of hisses ;
200 REMINISCENCES OF
however, the applause predominated, and the piece
was entirely successful.
After quitting the theatre, I had some friends to
sup with me in Pall Mall, and amongst them, the
author of the piece. We were enjoying ourselves
with all sorts of merriment, when in bolted my Hiber-
nian supporter, who, as he entered the room, voci-
ferated exultingly,
" Here we are, Mic, here we are ! We are the
boys ! We did it, Mic ! Oh, Sir, the music is
movingly beautiful ; and when the fellow in green
howled about the Hill of Howth (a hunting chorus,
" Hilloa ho !") we made no small noise. Beautiful
indeed was the tune : but as for the play may I
never stir if ever I saw such stuff and botheration ;
by my honour and soul I think nobody hissed the
speaking part half so much as we did."
It never entered the head of my exclusive friend,
that the success of the piece and of the music were
identified ; on the contrary, he thought the effect of
contrast would heighten the personal compliment to
me. The author, whom he had never seen, and who
was present, bore the explanation of his discern-
ment with very good humour ; and we washed down
the subject in copious draughts of that universal
panacea, whiskey punch.
On the 22nd of August Colman wrote a piece for
MICHAEL KELLY. 201
his own theatre, called " Gay Deceivers," for which
I composed the music. It had many comic inci-
dents, smart dialogue, and some sweet songs. One
called " The Spartan Boy," was truly poetical ; the
piece was performed a number of nights, and was
much liked. Colman grounded it upon a French
comic opera, entitled " Les Evenemens Imprevus,"
one of the pieces I had brought with me from Paris.
The author of the French drama, strange to say,
was an Irishman of the name of Hale, an officer in
the French military service ; all his songs were
versified for him, as he could not compose French
poetry, though he furnished all the subjects.
He wrote a very pretty comic opera, entitled
" L'Amant Jaloux," and " Midas," which was in
high favour with the Parisians. I saw it twice played
at the Theatre Rue Favart : the subject is differ-
ently treated from ours ; and, in my opinion, Kane
CrHara^s burletta is worth a million of it. In Paris,
it in a great degree gained its popularity by the
acting of the inimitable Monsieur Trial, who repre-
sented the Singing Shepherd ; his imitation of the
old school of French singing (which he caricatured
with irresistible humour) was admirable. " L'Amant
Jaloux," " Les Evenemens Imprevus," and u Mi-
das," were all composed by Gretry, and beautiful
music he gave them, although not sufficiently effec-
tive for the English taste; which, in the musical
K 5
202 REMINISCENCES OF
way, requires more Cayenne than that of any other
nation in the world.
At this period of my life, although eminently suc-
cessful in my professional career, my mind was
deeply embarrassed by perceiving the gradual de-
cline of the health of my dearest friend, Mrs.
Crouch. I prevailed upon her to accompany me
to Brighton, but grieved to find that she derived no
benefit from change of air.
On the 31st January, 1805, Tobin's popular and
successful play of the " Honey Moon'' was produced
at Drury Lane Theatre. It had lain for several
seasons on the shelf, and would have remained there,
had not Wroughton, who was then stage-manager
of Drury Lane (having nothing in the shape of a
new comedy to produce), rummaged the prompter's
room, where many other plays lay neglected, it
may be, never looked at. Luckily, one of the first
that came to hand was " The Honey Moon," which
Wroughton took home to read, and on his own judg-
ment and at his own risk, had it copied, cast, and
put into rehearsal. Thus did chance bring to light
one of the most popular comedies that had been
produced for many years.
It was finely performed in all its parts, particu-
larly the Duke by Elliston, Juliana by Miss Duncan,
and Jaques by young Collins, who was a true
disciple of Nature ; and, in my opinion, had not
MICHAEL KELLY. 203
death cut short his career, would have been an
ornament to the stage. There was a country dance
at the close of the fourth act, in which Elliston and
Miss Duncan displayed such grace and agility, that
it was always encored. There were also two songs,
one sung by Miss Duncan, and the other by Miss
Decamp, both composed by me. Poor Tobin had
not the satisfaction to see his play performed. Be-
fore it was produced he took a voyage to the
Mediterranean, in hopes that change of climate and
sea air would restore his health, which was very
delicate, but death struck him in the flower of his
youth. I had the pleasure of being well acquainted
with him, and was introduced to him by one of his
dearest friends, the late Miss Pope, the admirable
actress of Drury Lane, who wished very much that
we should write an opera together, which we had
agreed to do. Many and many a time have I
accompanied him to Mr. Joseph Richardson's house
in Argyll Street, to get back his comedy of " The
Honey Moon" from Drury Lane; but he never
succeeded even in obtaining a glimpse of it ; excuse
upon excuse was made for not restoring it ; and no
wonder, for, in fact, they were ignorant that it was
in their possession ; and after repeated calls, waiting
jobs, and denials, the unfortunate and disappointed
author gave up the piece as lost.
Mr. Richardson was a good man, and one of my
204 REMINISCENCES OF
most intimate friends, but, like his great prototype
and bosom friend, Sheridan, was indolence personi-
fied ; and to-morrow was, as with Sheridan, his day
of business. He even seemed ambitious of imitating
the foibles of Sheridan, which was bad taste, consi-
dering the disparity of their talents; for, as the
Spanish poet Garcia observes, " the eagle may gaze
stedfastly at the sun, while the butterfly is dazzled
by the light of a taper ;" not but that Richardson
possessed considerable literary talent. He was one
of the chief writers in the " Rolliad," and author of
that elegant comedy, " The Fugitive." He lived
in intimate friendship with "Lord John Townsend,
the Earl of Thanet,and Mr. Tickell, Mr. Sheridan's
brother-in-law, who was the author of a comic
opera called " The Carnival of Venice," and the
adapter of Allan Ramsay's " Gentle Shepherd."
Sheridan had assigned to Richardson a quarter
share of Drury Lane Theatre, said to be worth
twenty-five thousand pounds. The Dukes of
Northumberland and Bedford, Earls Fitzwilliam and
Thanet, raised fourteen thousand pounds to enable
him to complete his purchase. He was in high
favour with the late Duke of Northumberland, who
brought him into Parliament for the borough of
Newport in Cornwall.
When last in Paris, I had been to the Theatre
Frangais to see a petite comedy performed, entitled
MICHAEL KELLY. 205
" Les Deux Postes," and delighted I was with the
manner in which it was acted. Baptiste, the elder,
played the Blind Old Man to admiration. Indeed,
the whole dramatis personae were perfect. I pro-
cured a copy of the piece, and gave it to my friend
George Colman, who, being pleased with the subject,
resolved to write a musical afterpiece from it ; and
his adaptation was far superior to the original, as
indeed was every thing he did in the same way.
It was brought out on the 28th January, under
the title of " We Fly by Night ; or, Long Stories,"
at Covent Garden Theatre. I composed the whole
of the music. Munden's personification of the Old
Story-teller was perfect ; indeed, all the performers
in the piece gave it their best support ; it was
strongly cast. Listen and Fawcett were exquisitely
comic ; the part of the Englishman (in the French
original so well performed by Baptiste the younger)
was transposed into a Frenchman, and very well
acted by Farley ; Miss Tyrer, now Mrs. Liston,
was truly comic in the Landlady, and sang with her
usual sweetness; Miss Bavies was the Heroine.
The piece was eminently successful, and had a great
run. Both Miss Tyrer and Miss Davies were
pupils of Mrs. Crouch and myself. Mrs. Liston
was always attentive to her profession, and scru-
pulously honourable in fulfilling all her engagements.
A musical entertainment, written by Mr. Dimond
3
REMINISCENCES OF
for mv benefit, was produced on the 23rd May,
1805, entitled " Youth, Love, and Folly." I
composed the whole of the music. It combined
the talents of Elliston, Dowton, Mrs. Bland, and
Mrs. Mountain ; and I had an excellent part in it.
Miss Decamp acted a Jockey with such vivacity,
dressed it, and looked it, so completely, that she
might have passed as having been brought up at
Newmarket. The versatility of this lady's talent
was very great ; as was, to my knowledge, her zeal
for her employers, and aifability of manners to
every person in the theatre. When she quitted her
home, Drury Lane, her departure was regretted
by all.
My management at the Opera this season was
going on triumphantly. Winter produced a new
serious opera, entitled " L' Amore Fraterno."
The music was very fine. Mrs. Billington was
the Heroine, and sang with all her usual fasci-
nation, ably supported by the two tenor singers
Viganoni and Braham. Winter also composed the
music of the grand ballet of " Achilles," which was
excellent ; as well as the ballet itself, composed by
D'Egville, who in this, as well as many other pieces
of a similar nature, has proved himself a great
master of his art. His powerful acting, and that
of the graceful and handsome Deshayes, will long
be remembered.
MICHAEL KELLY. 207
The " Orazj," or, " Gli Orazj ed i Curiazj, 1 '
was got up for Grassini with all care and attention :
the music (the finest serious opera Cimarosa ever
produced) was delightful, and drew crowded houses
to the King's Theatre, as it did at Venice, where it
had been originally produced. In my opinion, the
acting of Grassini in this opera was almost as
fine as Mrs. Siddons"* : higher praise she could not
wish for ; the passage, where she exclaimed, " O,
Orazio, mio bene," leaning over her dead husband,
was positively heart-rending.
On account of the length of the operas and
ballets, and never being able to get the lady-
singers ready to begin in time, the operas seldom
finished till after twelve o'clock on Saturdays. The
Bishop of London sent to inform me, that if the
curtain did not drop before the twelfth hour, the
licence should be taken away, and the house shut
up. Against his fiat there was no appeal, and
many nights have I been obliged to order the
dropping of the curtain in the midst of an inte-
resting scene in the ballet. This, fpr a few nights,
passed on without any notice being taken of it by
the subscribers and the public; but on Saturday,
the 15th of June (Oh ! fatal night !), the demon of
discord appeared with all his terrors in this hitherto
undisturbed region of harmony. The curtain fell
before twelve o'clock, just as Deshayes and Parisot
208 REMINISCENCES OF
were dancing a popular pas de deux. This was the
signal for the sports to begin ; a universal outcry
of " Raise the curtain ! " Finish the ballet f'
resounded from all parts of the house; hissing,
hooting, yelling, (in which most of the ladies of
quality joined) commenced.
The ballet-master, D'Egville, was called for, and
asked, " Why he allowed the curtain to drop before
the conclusion of the ballet ?" He affirmed, that
he had directions from me to do so. I was then
called upon the stage, and received a volley of
hisses, yellings, &c. I stood it all, like bricks and
mortar ; but at last, thinking to appease them, I
said the truth was, that an order had been re-
ceived from the Bishop of London, to conclude
the performance before midnight. Some person
from the third tier of boxes, who appeared to be
a principal spokesman, called out, " You know,
Kelly, that you are telling a lie." I turned round
very coolly, and, looking up at the box from whence
the lie came, I said, " You are at a very convenient
distance; come down on the stage, and use that
language again, if you dare I"
This appeal was received by the audience with
a loud burst of applause, and a universal cry of
" Bravo, bravo, Kelly ; well replied ! Turn him
out ! Turn the fellow out of the boxes !" The
gentleman left the box, but did not think proper
MICHAEL KELLY. 209
to make his appearance on the stage. This was
a lucky turn as it regarded myself, but did not
appease the rioters ; for, finding their mandate for
drawing up the curtain and finishing the ballet not
obeyed, they threw all the chairs out of the boxes
into the pit, tore up the benches, broke the chan-
deliers, jumped into the orchestra, smashed the
piano-Forte, and continued their valorous exploits,
by breaking all the instruments of the poor un-
offending performers. Having achieved deeds so
worthy of a polished nation, and imagining no more
mischief could be done, they quitted the scene of
their despoliation with shouts of victory ; but there
was a finale to the drama, which they did not
expect. Mr. Goold identified some of the ring-
leaders, and commenced actions against them for
damages, which cost them many hundreds of
pounds. Mr. Goold gave up the actions ; (for,
as Gay says, " Goold from law could take out the
sting ;") on condition of their acknowledging their
ill-behaviour, and amply satisfying those who had
been injured.
At the close of the season I went to Brighton,
and took a house on the West Cliff, for Mrs.
Crouch ; but she gradually grew worse. She was
attended first by Sir Charles Blicke, and afterwards
by Dr. Bankhead, and by my worthy friend and
countryman, Sir Matthew Tierney, whose assiduous
210 REMINISCENCES OF
attentions on that trying occasion, must ever call
for my warmest gratitude. But alas ! the decree
had gone forth.
When her immediate danger was known, friends
flocked in from all quarters. Her sister, Mrs.
Horrebow, arrived from London, and our faithful
and attached friend, Mr. Rose, the merchant, with
whose family we had been for many years on the
most affectionate and confidential terms. With him
she at all times communicated unreservedly, and to
him confided her cares and anxieties for my future
prosperity ; for, to the last, she was utterly in-
capable of a selfish feeling. She arranged every
thing relative to her affairs and her funeral as if she
had been going a journey, and was to return and
reap the benefit of her care.
At length the dreadful hour arrived, over the
occurrences of which, feelings of affection, still un-
subdued, prompt me to draw a veil.
The grief, however deep and sincere, of affec-
tionate relatives and friends, can afford no interest
to a common reader ; but I hope that I, who knew
her best, may be permitted to say, that had she
been so fortunate as to meet with a husband capable
of appreciating and cherishing her estimable qua-
lities and superior talents, she would have lived and
died without a blemish on her fame.
The following year, I caused a monument to
MICHAEL KELLY.
be erected to her memory, bearing the inscription
which follows :
THE REMAINS OF
ANNA MARIA CROUCH,
During many Years a Performer at Drury Lane Theatre.
She combined with the purest Taste, as a Singer, the most
elegant Simplicity as an Actress : beautiful almost beyond
parallel in her Person, she wna equally distinguished
by the Powers of her Mind.
They enabled her,
when she quitted the Stage,
to gladden Life by the (.harms of her Conversation, and
refine it by her Manners.
She was born April 20lh, 1763, and
died October 2ud, 1603.
THIS STONE
is Inscribed to her beloved Memory, by him whom she
esteemed the most faithful of her Friends.
At a period so painfully distressing as this, I
received the greatest kindness and attention from
my friends Major and the first Mrs. Scott Waring.
I left Brighton with an aching heart, and went to
my friend Rose, at Richmond, where I received a
letter from Lord Guilford, inviting me to Wroxton
Abbey ; to such an invitation, so warmly pressed,
there was but one reply ; and I set off for that de-
lightful spot, where I knew consolation and kindness.
REMINISCENCES OF
awaited me. I wrote thence to Mr. Graham, then
at the head of the Board of Management of Drury
Lane, to say, that I could not return to the theatre
for some time ; and received a very kind letter in
reply, conveying permission to absent myself as long
as I thought fit. I remained at Wroxton Abbey
for two months.
On leaving the Earl of Guilford's, I went to pass
a week with the Marquis of Ormonde, at Ditchley,
in Oxfordshire, which his Lordship rented of Lord
Dillon. The Marquis was a great lover of the
drama, and well versed in all our dramatic poets.
The Marchioness was a most accomplished woman.
Every kindness and hospitality were shewn me by
my noble host and hostess, who were too suddenly
and shortly after snatched from this world them-
selves.
My two months having passed, I took my de-
parture for London, and played Henry, in " The
Deserter." On my first appearance, I was received,
as I thought, with kind and sympathetic applause,
by my friends and the audience; but I took a
thorough dislike to the stage, and resolved to quit
the profession, so soon as I had made some necessary
arrangements to enable me to do so. In the inte-
rim, I composed the music to the splendid spectacle
of " The Forty Thieves," produced at Drury Lane,
MICHAEL KELLY.
in April 1806, which had a very great run. Miss
Decamp acted, sang, and danced, in the character of
Morgiana, with wonderful effect.
The same season, in conjunction with Attwood, I
composed for Covent Garden, an operatic play,
called " Adrian and Orrila." Cooke played the
part of the Prince in it, and the very deuce he had
liked to have played with it : for, on the morning of
the day on which the piece was to be performed, he
came to rehearsal so intoxicated, that he could
scarcely stand. Both the author and myself were
on the stage, alarmed, as may well be imagined, for
the fate of a play, the principal serious character
of which, was to be performed by a man dead
drunk.
We were determined not to let our play be acted.
Mr. Kemble, on the contrary, (who then was stage-
.manager, as well as co-proprietor with Mr. Harris,)
insisted, that the play should be done, at all risks.
Mr. Harris was sent for, to decide. In the interim,
Cooke was pouring out a volley of abuse against
Kemble, calling him, " Black Jack," &c. all which
Kemble bore with Christian patience, and without
any reply. At length Mr. Harris, with his faithful
ally on all emergencies, the late James Brandon, the
box book-keeper, on seeing Cooke's situation, de-
cided that the play should not be performed on that
night ; but that Kemble should make an apology to
REMINISCEXCKS OF
the audience, on the plea of Cooke's sudden indis-
position ; which Kemble refused to do. " When
Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war."
Harris declared he would have the play changed.
Kemble, on the contrary, was as peremptory to have
it performed ; and vowed, that if it were changed,
under the pretence of Cookers indisposition, he
would go forward to the audience, and inform them
of the true cause of their disappointment.
Harris said, " Mr. Kemble, don't talk to me in
this manner. I am chief proprietor here, and will
have whatever orders I give, obeyed.""
I shall always remember Kemble's countenance,
when, with the greatest calmness, he replied :
" Sir, you are a proprietor so am I. I bor-
rowed a sum of money to come into this property.
How am I to repay those who lent me that money,
if you, from ill-placed lenity towards an individual,
who is repeatedly from intoxication disappointing
the public, choose to risk the dilapidation of the
Theatre, and thereby cause my ruin ? By Heavens,
I swear, the play shall be acted."
Words were getting to a very high pitch, when
Brandon coaxed Cooke into his house, put him to
bed, and applied napkins, steeped in cold water, to
his head, in the hopes of sobering him. He slept
from twelve till five o^clock, when he took some very
strong coffee, which brought him to his senses, and
MICHAEL KELLY. 215
he consented to play the part ; and, considering all
circumstances, I was struck with astonishment to see
how finely he acted it. To be sure, he had nearly
made one trifling omission, namely, cutting out the
whole plot of the piece- And had it not been for the
promptness and presence of mind of the then Miss
Smith (the present Mrs. Bartley), who played the
character (and finely she did play it,) of Madame
Clermont, he would have succeeded in doing so.
" Oh ! that men should put an enemy into their
mouths to steal away their brains !"
No man, when sober, was better conducted, or
possessed more affability of manners, blended with
sound sense and good nature, than Cooke ; he had
a fine memory, and was extremely well informed.
I asked him, when he was acting at Brighton one
day, to dine with me and Mrs. Crouch ; and we
were delighted with his conversation and gentleman-
like deportment. He took his wine cheerfully ;
and as he was going away, I urged him to have
another bottle ; his reply was, " Not one drop
more. I have taken as much as I ought to take ;
I have passed a delightful evening, and should I
drink any mure wine, I might prove a disagreeable
companion ; therefore, good night ;" and away he
went. Nor could I then prevail upon him to stop.
In the memorable time of the O. P. riot, some of
the actors belonging to Covent Garden seemed to
216 REMINISCENCES OF
enjoy the disagreeable situation in which Kemble,
as manager, stood. I was one night in Covent
Garden Theatre, when one of them absolutely and
roundly asserted, that Kemble was but an indifferent
actor. Cooke was in the green-room at the time,
and I said, " What do you think of the assertions
of those gentlemen, Mr. Cooke ; do you think
Kemble an indifferent actor ?"
" No, Sir," he replied ; " I think him a very
great one; and those who say the contrary are
envious men, and not worthy, as actors, to wipe
his shoes.*" It gave me unspeakable pleasure, to
hear him give so liberal an opinion of my esteemed
friend, even though the expression of it was some-
what of the coarsest.
In the same season, the Italian Opera acquired a
powerful acquisition in Naldi, the celebrated buffo
singer, who made his dtbut in a comic opera, en-
titled " Le Due Nozze ed un sol Marito," and was
received with great and deserved applause ; he was
a fine comic actor. His performance in " II Fana-
tico per la Musica," was unique ; he was, besides,
an excellent musician, and a good performer on the
violoncello. I always had a strong partiality for
Naldi, he was a fine generous fellow. When he
was engaged at the Opera House, Morelli, the once
fine bass singer, was discharged ; and from an inor-
dinate passion which he had for insuring in the
MICHAEL KKLLY. 217
lottery, was steeped in poverty. Naldi, until the
day of his death, furnished him with every necessary
of life, and allowed him a weekly stipend of two
guineas for his pocket, which was regularly trans-
mitted to him every Saturday night.
Naldi, previous to the Revolution, was a lawyer
of considerable eminence at Bologna; he was an
excellent scholar; and his manners were those of an
extremely well-bred man. Like many others of his
ill-fated countrymen, he was obliged to quit his
native city, and make a profession of that, which he
had only studied as an accomplishment. Whilst
performing at Venice, the beauteous eyes of Madame
Vigano, a celebrated dancer, enslaved his heart.
They went to Lisbon, both having an engagement
at the Italian Opera House there. He remained
many seasons in London, a justly deserved favourite.
His ill stars took him to Paris, where, one day, just
before dinner, at his friend Garcia^s house, in the
year 1821 , he was shewing the method of cooking
by steam, with a portable apparatus for that
purpose; unfortunately, in consequence of some
derangement of the machinery, an explosion took
place, by which he was instantaneously killed. The
awful and untimely fate of this worthy man was
lamented by all, but by none more than myself, "for
I had always lived with him on terms of the most
cordial and sincere friendship.
VOL. II. L
218 REMINISCENCES OF
I have often heard him describe the great hatred
he felt for the French nation, and every thing
belonging to it ; indeed, he carried his dislike so far,
that although often offered the most tempting
engagements at Paris, as first buffo at the Italian
Opera, nothing could prevail upon, or induce him
to go thither, until urgent business took him there
to meet his death. His principal inducement for
visiting Paris, was to see Madame Naldi's daughter
(whom he loved as his own child) make her dtbut,
which she did previous to his untimely end, and
was much liked. Sbe is still at the theatre, and a
favourite of the Parisians.
On the 13th December, 1806, Madame Catalani,
and Signor Siboni, made their debut in the serious
opera of " La Semiramide." Madame Catalani's
personification of Semiramide was a powerful
effort of the scenic art she looked beautiful, and a
queen ; her songs were given in a manner which
electrified her audience ; she possesses, in truth,
what the Italians call the novanta ?iove, i. e. the
ninety-nine. When a singer possesses a superior
fine voice, the Italians say, he, or she, has got the
ninety-nine points out of the hundred, to make
a fine singer. Her reception, by a crowded audience,
was enthusiastic. Siboni, in addition to a fine tenor
voice, and a commanding figure, was a tasteful
singer, and a good musician ; his reception was also
MICHAEL KELLY.
very flattering. At the close of the season, Made-
moiselle Parisot, who had been a popular dancer
for some years, took leave of the stage, and married
a Mr. Hughes, a man of property.
In April 1807, Mr. M. G. Lewis brought out,
at Drury Lane Theatre, his romantic drama, called
the " Wood Daemon." It was, unquestionably, a
work of genius ; I composed the music to it. It
was brought forward with magnificent scenery, and
was a favourite.
On the 12th May, Mr. Dimond's operatic piece,
in two acts, called the " Young Hussar," was
produced at Drury Lane Theatre. I also composed
the music to that, and it was, on the whole, suc-
cessful.
Musical pieces were often performed at Drury
Lane : among others, Mr. Sheridan's opera of
" The Duenna," in which I performed the part of
Ferdinand. It was customary with me, when I
played at night, to read my part over in the morn-
ing, in order to refresh my memory. One morning,
after reading the part of Ferdinand, I left the
printed play of " The Duenna," as then acted, on
the table. On my return home, after having taken
my ride, I founp! Mr. Sheridan reading it, and with
pen and ink before him, correcting it. He said to
me, " Do you act the part of Ferdinand from this
printed copy ?"
REMINISCENCES OF
I replied in the affirmative, and added, " that I
had done so for twenty years."
" Then,"" said he, " you have been acting great
nonsense." He examined every sentence, and cor-
rected it all through before he left me ; the correc-
tions I have now in his own hand- writing. What
could prove his negligence more, than correcting an
opera which he had written in 1775, in the year
1807 ; and then, for the first time, examining it,
and abusing the manner in which it was printed ?
I know, however, of many instances of his negli-
gence, equally strong, two of which I will adduce
as tolerable good specimens of character. I can
vouch for their authenticity .
Mr. Gotobed, the Duke of Bedford's attorney,
put a distress into Drury Lane Theatre, for non-
payment of the ground rent ; and the chandeliers,
wardrobe, scenery, &c. were to be sold to satisfy his
Grace's claim. Sheridan, aroused and alarmed at
the threat, wrote a letter to the Duke, requesting
him to let his claim be put in a state of liquidation,
by Mr. Gotobed's receiving, out of the pit door
money, 10/. per night, until the debt should be
paid ; this was agreed upon by his Grace. More
than a twelvemonth passed, and Sheridan was
astonished at receiving no reply to his letter. In an
angry mood he went to Mr. Gotobed's house, in
Norfolk-street (I was with him at the time), com-
MICHAEL KELLY. 22
plaining of the transaction ; when Mr. Gotobed
assured him, on his honour, that the Duke had sent
an answer to his letter, above a year before. On
hearing this, Sheridan went home, examined the table
on which all his letters were thrown, and amongst
them found the Duke's letter, unopened, dated
more than twelve months back. To me, this did
not appear very surprising ; for, when numbers of
letters have been brought to him, at my house,
I have seen him consign the greatest part of them to
the fire, unopened.
No man was ever more sore and frightened at
criticism than he was, from his first outset in life.
He dreaded the newspapers, and always courted
their friendship. I have many times heard him say,
" Let me but have the periodical press on my side,
and there should be nothing in this country which
I would not accomplish."
This sensitiveness of his, as regarded newspapers,
renders the following anecdote rather curious:
after he had fought his famous duel at Bath, with
Colonel Matthews, on Mrs. Sheridan's (Miss Lin-
ley's) account, an article of the most venomous kind
was sent from Bath, to Mr. William Woodfall, the
editor of the Public Advertiser, in London, to
insert in that paper. The article was so terribly bitter
against Sheridan, that Woodfall took it to him.
After reading it, he said to Woodfall, " My good
222 REMINISCENCES OF
friend, the writer of this article has done his best to
vilify me in all ways, but he has done it badly and
clumsily. I will write a character of myself, as
coming from an anonymous writer, which you will
insert in your paper. In a day or two after, I will
send you another article, as coming from another
anonymous correspondent, vindicating me, and
refuting most satisfactorily, point by point, every
particle of what has been written in the previous one."'
Woodfall promised that he would attend to his
wishes ; and Sheridan accordingly wrote one of the
most vituperative articles against himself, that mor-
tal ever penned, which he sent to Woodfall, who
immediately inserted it in his newspaper, as agreed
upon.
Day after day passed ; the calumnies which She-
ridan had invented against himself got circulation,
and were in every body's mouth ; and day after day
did Mr. Woodfall wait for the refutation which was
to set all to rights, and expose the fallacy of the
accusations; but, strange to say, Sheridan never
could prevail upon himself to take the trouble to
write one line in his own vindication ; and the libels
which he invented against himself, remain to this
hour wholly uncontradicted.
I was well acquainted with Mr. Woodfall, who
declared to me that this was the fact.
Another instance of his neglect for his own
MICHAEL KELLY.
interest, came (amongst many others) to my know-
ledge. He had a particular desire to have an
audience of his late Majesty, who was then at
Windsor ; it was on some point which he wished to
carry, for the good of the theatre. He mentioned
it to his present Majesty, who, with the kindness
which on every occasion he shewed him, did him
the honour to say, that he would take him to
Windsor himself ; and appointed him to be at Carl-
ton House, to set off with His Royal Highness
precisely at eleven o'clock. He called upon me,
and said, " My dear Mic, I am going to Windsor
with the Prince the day after to-morrow ; I must
be with him at eleven o'clock in the morning, to a
moment, and to be in readiness at that early hour,
you must give me a bed at your house ; I shall then
only have to cross the way to Carlton House, and
be punctual to the appointment of His Royal
Highness. 1 '
I had no bed to offer him but my own, which I
ordered to be got in readiness for him ; and he,
with his brother-in-law, Charles Ward, came to
dinner with me. Amongst other things at table,
there was a roast neck of mutton, which was sent
away untouched. As the servant was taking it out
of the room, I observed, " There goes a dinner fit
for a king ;" alluding to his late Majesty's known
partiality for that particular dish.
REMINISCENCES OF
v
The next morning I went out of town, to dine
and sleep, purposely to accommodate Mr. Sheridan
with my bed ; and got home again about four
oVlock in the afternoon, when I was told by my
servant, that Mr. Sheridan was up-stairs still, fast
asleep that he had been sent for, several times,
from Carlton House, but nothing could prevail
upon him to get up.
It appears that, in about an hour after I had
quitted town, he called at the saloon, and told my
servant-maid, that " he knew she had a dinner fit for
a king in the house, a cold roast neck of mutton,"
and asked her if she had any wine. She told him
there were, in a closet, five bottles of port, two
of madeira, and one of brandy ; the whole of which,
I found that he, Richardson, and Charles Ward,
after eating the neck of mutton for dinner, had con-
sumed : on hearing this, it was easy to account for
his drowsiness in the morning. He was not able
to raise his head from his pillow, nor did he get
out of bed until seven o'clock, when he had some
dinner.
Kemble came to him in the evening, and they
again drank very deep, and I never saw Mr. Sheri-
dan in better spirits. Kemble was complaining of
want of novelty at Drury Lane Theatre ; and that,
as manager, he felt uneasy at the lack of it. " My
dear Kemble," said Mr. Sheridan, " don't talk of
MICHAEL KELLY. 225
grievances now."" But Kemble still kept on saying,
" Indeed we must seek for novelty, or the theatre will
sink ; novelty, and novelty alone, can prop it."
" Then,"" replied Sheridan, with a smile, " if
you want novelty, act Hamlet, and have music
played between your pauses."
Kemble, however he might have felt the sarcasm,
did not appear to take it in bad part. What made
the joke tell at the time, was this : a few nights
previous, while Kemble was acting Hamlet, a
gentleman came to the pit door, and tendered half-
price. The money-taker told him, that the third
act was only then begun.
The gentleman, looking at his watch, said, It
must be impossible, for that it was half-past nine
o'clock.
" That is very true, Sir, 1 ' replied the money-
taker ; " but recollect, Mr. Kemble plays Hamlet
to-night."
Mr. Sheridan, although a delightful companion,
was by no means disposed to loquacity indeed,
quite the contrary ; but when he spoke, he com-
manded universal attention ; and what he said, de-
served it. His conversation was easy and good-
natured, and so strongly characterised by shrewd-
ness, and a wit peculiarly his ow,n, that it would be
hard, indeed, to find his equal as a companion.
That he had failings, who will deny ? but then, who
L5
REMINISCENCES OF
amongst us has not ? One thing I may safely affirm,
that he was as great an enemy to himself as to any
body else.
One evening that their late Majesties honoured
Drury Lane Theatre with their presence, the play,
by royal command, was the " School for Scandal."
When Mr. Sheridan M^as in attendance to light
their Majesties to their carriage, the King said to
him, " I am much pleased with your comedy of
the ' School for Scandal ;"* but I am still more so,
with your play of the ' Rivals ;' that is my fa-
vourite, and I will never give it up."
Her Majesty, at the same time, said, " When,
Mr. Sheridan, shall we have another play from^your
masterly pen ?" He replied, that " he was writing
a comedy, which he expected very shortly to finish.^
I was told of this ; and the next day, walking
with him along Piccadilly, I asked him if he had
told the Queen, that he was writing a play ? He
said he had, and that he actually was about one.
" Not you," said I to him ; " you will never
write again ; you are afraid to write. 1 '
He fixed his penetrating eye on me, and said,
" Of whom am I afraid ?"
I said, u You are afraid of the author of the
< School for Scandal. 1 "
I believe, at the time I made the remark, he
thought my conjecture was right.
MICHAEL KELLY. 227
One evening, after we had dined together, I was
telling him, that I was placed in a dilemma by a
wine-merchant from Hockheim, who had been in
London to receive orders for the sale of hock. I
had commissioned him (as he offered me the wine at
a cheap rate) to send me six dozen. Instead of six
dozen, he had sent me sixteen. I was observing?
that it was a greater quantity than I could afford
to keep, and expressed a wish to sell part of it.
" My dear Kelly," said Mr. Sheridan, " I would
take it off your hands with all my heart, but I have
not the money to pay for it ; I will, however, give you
an inscription to place over the door of your saloon :
Write over it, ' Michael Kelly, composer of
wines, and importer of music."* "
I thanked him, and said, " I will take the hint,
Sir, and be a composer of all wines except old
Sherry ; for that is so notorious for its intoxicating
and pernicious qualities, that I should be afraid of
poisoning my customers with it. 1 '
The above story has been told in many ways ;
but as I have written it here, is the fact. He
owned I had given him a Roland for his Oliver,
and very often used to speak of it in company.
About this time, my good friend Major Waring
bought Peterborough House, at Parson's Green,
which before had been the property of Mr. Meyrick ;
and certainly there never was a more hospitable one.
228 KEMINISCENCES OF
The society consisted chiefly of persons of genius.
There have I met, month after month, Lady Hamil-
ton, Mrs. Billington, the Abbe Campbell ; the
Irish Master of the Rolls, Mr. Curran ; and a
worthy countryman of mine, Mr. John Glynn, of
the Commissariat Department ; and many a time
and oft have we heard the chimes of midnight, for
that was the hour at which Currants lamp burned
brightest ; and round the social board, till morning
peeped, all was revelry and mirth.
While I am on the subject of revelry and mirth,
it may not be amiss to give the reader an idea .of the
extraordinary mixtures cf serious splendour and
comical distress, which occasionally take place in
the world.
Every body knows, that during the short admi-
nistration of Mr. Fox's party, Mr. Sheridan held
the office of Treasurer of the Navy, to which office,
as every body also knows, a handsome residence is at-
tached. It was during his brief authority in this situ-
ation, that he gave a splendid fete, to which, not only
the ministers and a long list of nobility were invited,
but which, it was understood, His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales, his present Most Gracious
Majesty, would honour with his presence : a ball
and supper followed the dinner. Morelli, Rove-
dino, and the Opera company, appeared in masks,
and sang complimentary verses to the Prince, which
MICHAEL KELLY. 229
Pananti wrote, and I composed. The music in
" Macbeth" was then performed ; and, in short,
nothing could surpass the gaiety and splendour of
the entertainment, which went off as well as was
anticipated.
But, previous to the great consummation of all
the hopes and wishes of the donor, I happened to
call at Somerset House, about half-past five ; and
there I four>d the brilliant, highly-gifted Sheridan,
the star of his party, and treasurer of the Navy, in
an agony of despair. What was the cause ? had
any accident occurred ? bad news from the Con-
tinent ? was the Ministry tottering ? In short,
what was it that agitated so deeply a man of Sheri-
dan's nerve and intellect, and temporary official
importance ? He had just discovered that there
was not a bit of cheese in the house not even a
paring What was to be done ? Sunday, all the
shops shut without cheese, his dinner would be
incomplete.
I told him I thought some of the Italians would
be prevailed upon to open their doors and supply
him ; and off we went together in a hackney-coach,
cheese-hunting, at six o'clock on a Sunday afternoon
the dinner-hour being seven, and His Royal
Highness the Prince expected.
After a severe run of more than an hour, we pre-
vailed upon a sinner, in Jermyn Street, to sell us
REMINISCENCES OF
some of the indispensable article, and got back just
in time for mine host to dress to receive his company.
I forget now who paid for the cheese, but the rest
of the story I well remember, and have thought
worth recording.
It was during this season, that Mr. Frederick
Jones, the proprietor of the Dublin Theatre,
induced by the extraordinary popularity of Madame
Catalani, came to London, for the purpose of en-
gaging her. He also came to me, to engage me to
perform with her, and conduct the operas and con-
certs, and make up an Italian Company for the
Rotunda, and the Dublin Theatre, which I did.
The company consisted of Madame Catalani, Sig-
nors Morelli, Rovedino, Deville, and myself. There
were two operas to be performed ; " Semiramide,"
and " II Fanatico per la Musica." I was to have for
my engagement, a free benefit. Madame Catalani
was to have a clear half of the receipts of each night's
performance ; and Mr. Jones the other half, for pay-
ing all the performers, orchestra, &c. The agree-
ment was signed and sealed in my saloon in Pall
Mall. M. Valabrique, Madame Catalani's husband,
was kind enough to offer me a seat in their travel-
ling-carriage to Dublin, which I accepted.
I was their guest throughout the whole journey,
which was really delightful : indeed, their attention
on this and every other occasion to me, can never
MICHAEL KELLr.
be forgotten by me. I always found Monsieur Vala-
brique a very good-natured man ; aware, certainly,
that he possessed an inestimable gem in the splendid
talents of his wife. He was a strict guardian of
those talents, and very properly turned them to the
best advantage for their lovely possessor.
Of Madame Catalani herself, I could relate num-
berless traits of goodness ; no woman was ever more
charitable or kind-hearted ; and as for the quality
of her mind, I never knew a more perfect child of
nature. She was delighted with the beauties of
Wales, and I remember was particularly struck by
the vale of Langollen.
At Bangor, she heard the Welsh harp for the
first time. The old blind harper of the house was
in the kitchen ; thither she went, and seemed de-
lighted with the wild and plaintive music which he
played. But when he struck up a Welsh jig, she
started up before all the servants in the kitchen, and
danced as if she were wild. I thought she never
\\ould have ceased. ,At length, however, she
finished ; and, on quitting the kitchen, gave the
harper two guineas.
When we arrived in Dublin, she was received and
caressed in every society. The concerts at the Ro-
tunda, which I conducted, and in which I sang, were
nightly crowded. The orchestra was ably led by
REMINISCENCES OF
my friend Tom Cooke, whose versatility and genius,
in my opinion, cannot be too highly appreciated.
One morning, at a rehearsal at the Rotunda, Ma-
dame Catalani was so ill with a sick headache, that
she could not rehearse her song ; and as it was
extremely difficult for the orchestra, she begged of
me to have it rehearsed by the basd. Cooke
asked me for the part from which Madame Catalani
sang ; I gave it him. He placed it on one side of
his music desk, and on the other, his first violin part,
from which he was to play ; and to my great asto-
nishment, Madame Catalani's, and that of all present,
he sang every note of the song, at the same time
playing his own part on the violin, as leader ; thus
killing, as it were, two birds with one stone, with the
greatest ease.
The song was one of Portogallo^s, in- manuscript,
and had never been out of Madame Catalani's hands ;
therefore, it was impossible that he could have seen
it previously ; it was full of difficult divisions, of
which he did not miss one. Had I not been an
eye-witness of this extraordinary exhibition, 1 could
not, as a musical man, have believed it.
The prices at the theatre, on the nights Catalani
performed, were raised to half a guinea for the pit
and boxes, and five shillings for the gallery. At
the piano-forte sat my old, revered, and first teacher,
MICHAEL KELLY. 233
Dr. Cogan. Madame Catalan! was received, and
hailed by the Irish audience, with rapturous ap-
plause. She sang divinely, both in the serious and
comic operas. I always acted with her, and had a
hearty reception from my generous countrymen. I
had the honour of dining with her and her husband,
at the Earl of Harrington's, Commander-in-Chief ;
amongst others, whom I had the pleasure of meet-
ing at his Lordship's, were Mr. W. Browne, of
Castle Browne, whom I first met at Venice ; and
Major Kelly, who was then Lord Harrington's
Aide-de-camp, and whose gallantry at the Battle of
Waterloo, will long be remembered, and duly ap-
preciated by his country.
I was also particularly honoured by the notice of
his Grace the Duke of Richmond, then Lord Lieu-
tenant. When, accompanied by the Duchess and
family, his Grace honoured the Opera with his pre-
sence, it was my duty, as director, to light the
vice-regal party to their box, as they came in state.
His Grace was particularly kind in his conversation
and remarks ; and at the conclusion of the opera,
when again lighting them to their carriages, her
Grace the Duchess would not permit me to attend
them beyond the box. I had the honour of being
invited to the Lodge, at the Phoanix Park, and
there found the Viceroy the same accomplished
234 REMINISCENCES OF
gentleman I knew him at Vienna, when he was the
gay and lively Colonel Lennox.
From Mr. Jones, the patentee of the theatre,
his amiable wife, and charming family, I experi-
enced the greatest hospitality and kindness ; their
house was my home, and every thing was done for
my comfort. Indeed, it would be invidious in me
to particularise the many acts of kindness .1 received
from my friends in Ireland.
I went one day to dine with my witty countryman,
Curran, the Master of the Rolls, at his pretty
place at Rathfarnham. Among his guests was
Counsellor Mac Nally, the author of the opera of
" Robin Hood. 11 I passed a delightful day there.
Many pleasant stories were told after dinner ; among
others, one of Mac Nally's, to prove the predilection
which some of our countrymen formerly had for
getting into scrapes, when they first arrived in
London.
The night his opera of " Robin Hood" was
brought out at Covent Garden Theatre, a young
Irish friend of his, on his first visit to London, was
seated on the second seat in the front boxes ; on the
front row were two gentlemen, who, at the close of
the first act, were saying how much they liked the
opera, and that it did great credit to Mrs. Cowley,
who wrote it. On hearing this, my Irish friend got
MICHAEL KELLY. 235
up, and tapping one of them on the shoulder, said
to him,
" Sir, you say that this opera was written by
Mrs. Cowley ; now, / say it was not : this opera
was written by Leonard Mac Nally, Esq. Barrister
at Law, of No. 5, Pump Court, in the Temple.
Do you take my word for it. Sir ?"
" Most certainly, Sir," replied the astonished gen-
tleman ; " and I feel very much obliged for the in-
formation you have so politely given me. 11
" Umph ! very well, Sir," said he, and sat
down.
At the end of the second act, he got up, and
again accosted the same gentleman, saying, " Sir,
upon your honour, as a gentleman, are you in your
own mind perfectly satisfied that Leonard Mac
Nally, Esq. Barrister at Law, of No. 5, Pump
Court, in the Temple, has actually written this
opera, and not Mrs. Cowley ?"
" Most perfectly persuaded of it, Sir," said the
gentleman, bowing.
" Then, Sir," said the young Irishman, " I wish
you a good night;"" but just as he was leaving the
box, he turned to the gentleman whom he had been
addressing, and said,
" Pray, Sir, permit me to ask, is your friend
there convinced, that this opera was written by Mr.
256 EEMINISCENCES OF
Mac Nally, Barrister at Law, of No. 5, Pump
Court, in the Temple ?"
" Decidedly, Sir," was the reply ; " we are both
fully convinced of the correctness of your state-
ment."
" Oh, then, if that is the case, I have nothing
more to say," said the Hibernian, " except that if
you had not both assured me you were so, neither
of you should be sitting quite so easy on your seats
as you do now."
After this parting observation, he withdrew, and
did not return to the box.
I have often heard it said, that Irishmen are
generally prone to be troublesome and quarrelsome.
Having, in the different countries I have visited,
had the pleasure of mixing much with them, I can
aver, from experience, that the contrary is the
case, and that, generally speaking, they are far
from being either the one or the other ; and if they
find that an affront is not intended, no nation in the
universe will join more freely in the laugh, if even
against themselves. I will take leave to quote an
example, Curran versus Mac Nally :
Mac Nally was very lame ; and when walking,
had an unfortunate limp, which he could not bear
to be told of. At the time of the Rebellion, he was
seized with a military ardour ; and when the different
MICHAEL KELLY. 237
volunteer corps were forming in Dublin, that of
the lawyers was organized. Meeting with Curran,
Mac Nally said, " My dear friend, these are not
times for a man to be idle ; I am determined to enter
the Lawyers'* Corps, and follow the camp."
" You follow the camp, my little limb of the
law ?" said the wit ; " tut, tut, renounce the idea ;
you never can be a disciplinarian."'
" And why not, Mr. Curran ?" said Mac Nally.
' " For this reason," said Curran ; " the moment
you were ordered to march, you would lialt"
But I fear I am digressing somewhat too wildly.
To resume :
After spending a delightful summer, which was
productive both of pleasure and profit, I returned
to London about the end of September 1807. On
the 3rd May, 1808, Mr. Cumberland produced, at
Drury Lane Theatre, a piece entitled " The Jew of
Mogadore, :< * to which I composed the music: It
was with great reluctance that the Board of Ma-
nagement at Drury Lane accepted it : therefore,
when I had finished the music of the first act, I
rested upon my oars until I knew their final deter-
mination. I met Mr. Sheridan one day in Essex
Street in the Strand, and told him of it. He desired
me to go on with it by all means ; " For," said he,
" if the opera should fail, you will fall with a fine
classical scholar, and elegant writer, as well as a
i
238 REMINISCENCES OF
sound dramatist," (such was his expressed opinion
of Cumberland's abilities.) " Go, instantly," con-
tinued he, " to those discerning critics, who call
themselves the { Board of Management, 1 and tell
them, from me, if you please, that they are all
asses, to presume to sit in judgment on the writings
of such a man as Cumberland ; and say, further,
that / order the opera to be accepted, and put into
rehearsal."
" And pray, Sir," said I, " in what light am I
to view this ' Board of Management ?' What are
they ?"
" Pegs to hang hats upon," said Sheridan.
I went to the pegs, communicated Mr. Sheridan's
command, and the opera was performed accordingly-
Braham sang in it charmingly.
On the 26th May, 1808, my friend, Miss Pope,
quitted Drury Lane stage, as Deborah Dowlas, in
the " Heir at Law," and spoke a farewell address
in the character of Audrey. I went there to
witness it. No lady, on or off the stage, bore a
higher character than Miss Pope. She was an
actress of the old school, and had the honour of
being patronised by his late Majesty George the
Third. She made her first entree at Drury Lane
Theatre in the year 1759, in the part of Corinna,
in the comedy of " The Confederacy." . She had
been the favourite pupil of the celebrated Kate
3
MICHAEL KELLY. 239
Clive, and was brought forward under the auspices
of that great comic actress.
On the 30th May, 1808, I witnessed the retire-
ment of my friend, Madame Storace, from the stage,
in her favourite part of Margaretta, in " No Song,
no Supper." Colman wrote a farewell address for
her, which she sang in character ; and quitted public
life, esteemed and regretted by all those who were
acquainted with her. I continued in intimate friend-
ship with her to the day of her death.
One Thursday she dined with me in Russell-
street. Signer Ambrogetti, the comic singer, and
my friend, Mr. Savory, of Bond-street, me.t her
at dinner; in the course of the evening, she was
all at once taken with a shivering fit, and appeared
very ill. When her carriage came to take her home,
Mr. Savory requested her to be bled, and to send
for Dr. Hooper. On the following day Dr. Hooper
went to her country-house at Herne Hill, and ad-
vised her by all means to be bled, but she would
not consent because it was Friday ; thus, in fact>
she sacrificed herself to /superstition. It was confi-
dently asserted, that had she lost blood, her life
might have been saved.
Superstition often takes possession of the strongest
minds. A more powerful instance of the truth of
this cannot be cited than that of Mr. Sheridan.
No mortal ever was more superstitious than he,
as I can aver from my own knowledge. No
240 , REMINISCENCES OF
power could prevail upon him to commence any
business, or set out upon a journey, on a Friday ;
nor would he allow, if lie possibly could avoid it, a
piece to be produced at his theatre on a Friday
night. It is a well-known fact (which he never
denied), that when Tom Sheridan was under the
tuition of Doctor Parr, in Warwickshire, his father
dreamt that he fell from a tree in an orchard, and
broke his neck. He took alarm, and sent for his
boy to London, instanter. The Doctor obeyed the
mandate, and brought his pupil to town ; and I
had the pleasure to meet him at Mr. Sheridan's, at
dinner. I thought him (though an oddity) very
clever and communicative : he was a determined
smoker, and, on that day, not a little of a soaker ;
lie drank a great deal of wine, to say nothing of a
copious exhibition of hollands and water afterwards.
I remember, when he was asked whom he con-
sidered the first Greek scholar in Europe, he aji-
swered, " The first Grecian scholar living is Person,
the third is Dr. Burney, I leave you to guess who
is the second."
On the 13th June, 1808, Madame Catalani
performed a scena from " Semiramide," at Drury
Lane Theatre, for my benefit, in which I also per-
formed On the 17th June, 1808, I played in
" No Song, no Supper," which was my last ap-
pearance on the Drury Lane stage, where I had
been chiefly the principal male singer for twenty
MICHAEL KELLY. 241
years, but I did not think myself of sufficient con-
sequence to take a formal leave of the public.
I then made an arrangement with Mr. Sheridan,
to be Musical Director of Drury Lane Theatre, and
to continue Stage Manager of the Opera House.
While on the stage, I did every thing in my power,
by persevering industry in my profession, to merit
the patronage and liberality which I experienced
from an indulgent public. From the first moment
I trod the boards of Drury Lane to the moment I
quitted it, as far as my feeble efforts went, I endea-
voured to support it, through all its perplexities. I
had a veneration for the theatre where Garrick and
Sheridan had presided, and its best interests were
nearest my heart. I felt a proud distinction at
having been so fortunate, as for five and twenty years
to have enjoyed the most friendly intimacy and
unreserved confidence of its highly-gifted pro-
prietor ; whom I look upon, take him for all in
all, to have been one of the most extraordinary
men of the age in which he lived. Mr. Sheridan
did me the honour (as his friend,) to introduce
me to the best society, and the first literary men
in the kingdom, who all sought his company. They
were sure to find him almost every night at my
house, where he was the great magnet of attraction.
One day, I had the pleasure of having at my
table to dinner, the Marquis of Ormonde, the
VOL. II. M
REMINISCENCES OF
Earl of Guilford, Sir Charles Bampfylde, Messrs.
Sheridan, Richardson, Colraan, my countryman
Curran, John Kemble, and Tom Sheridan. A
greater power of talent seldom or ever was con-
gregated ; but, alas ! every one of those highly-
distinguished individuals (my valued friend George
Colman excepted) has been taken from us.
Some time previous to my retirement from Drury
Lane stage, I had made Madame Catalani a promise
to accompany her, for the second time, to Dublin.
I set off with them on the 1st of August, 1808 ;
she was engaged by Mr. Jones, on similar terms
to those she received on her first engagement there ;
mine, too, were the same. Signer Siboni and Signor
Spagnoletti were also engaged. We had to per-
form two grand serious operas, " La Mitridate,^
and " La.Didone Abbandonata," in both of which
Madame Catalani exerted herself beyond her former
efforts ; but " La Didone" was her triomphe, both
as an actress and a singer. Siboni performed the
haughty larbas, the Moorish king ; and I, the pious
Eneas. After performing six nights in Dublin, we
proceeded to give six performances at Cork. The
Cork audience are passionately fond of music, and
Catalani' s reception was enthusiastic ; and I expe-
rienced the most hospitable reception from nume-
rous friends.
Walking on the Parade, on the second morning
MICHAEL KELLY.
<of my arrival, with Mr. Townsend, proprietor of
die Correspondent newspaper, he pointed out a very
fine-looking elderly gentleman, standing at the club-
house door, and told me that he was one of the most
eccentric men in the world his name was O'Reilly ;
he had served many years in the Irish Brigade, in
Germany and Prussia, where he had been distin-
guished as an excellent officer. Mr. Townsend
added, " We reckon him here a great epicure, and
he piques himself on being a great judge of the
culinary art, as well as of wines. His good nature
and pleasantry have introduced him to the best
society, particularly among the Roman Catholics,
where he is always a welcome guest. He speaks
German, French, and Italian, fluently; and con-
stantly, while speaking English, with a determined
Irish brogue, mixes all those languages in every
sentence. It is immaterial to him, whether the
person he is talking to understand him or not
on he goes, stop him who can. He is a great friend
of Frederick Jones ; and it is an absolute fact, that
Jones took such a liking to him the first day he
came to dine with him, that he made him stay at
his house all night, and he has lived with him ever
since that is to say, for seven years. Jones now
never comes to Cork, but sends the Captain down
when the Dublin company perform here. He is
extremely useful, keeps a strict look-out for every
244 REMINISCENCES OF
thing that concerns his friencTs interests, and is a
perfect Cerberus among his door-keepers at the
theatre ; but let us cross over, and I will introduce
you, I am sure you will be pleased with him.""
I was accordingly presented to him. No sooner
had the noble Captain shaken me heartily by the
hand, than he exclaimed,
" Bon jour, mon cher Mic, je suis bien aisc de
vous voir, as we say in France. J^etois facile that
I missed meeting you when you was last in Dublin ;
but I was obliged to go to the County Galway to
see a brother officer, who formerly served with me
in Germany, as lierliclt a carle., as we say in German,
as ever smelt gunpowder. By the God of war, il
cst brave, comme son epee c^est-a-dire, as brave as
his sword. Now tell me, how go on your brother
Joe, and your brother Mark ; your brother Pat,
poor fellow, lost his life I know in the East Indies,
but Jest la fortune de la guerre, and he died avec
honneur. Your sister Mary, too, how is she ? By
my soul, she is as good a hearted, kind creature, as
ever lived ; but entre nous, soit dit, she is rather
plain, ma non e bella, quelcJi 1 e bella, e bella quel die
place, as we say in Italian."
" Now, Captain," said I, " after the flattering en-
comiums you have bestowed on my sister's beauty,
may I ask how you became so well acquainted
with my family concerns ?"
MICHAEL KELLY.
" Parbleu ! my dear Mic," said the Captain ;
" well I may be, for sure your mother and my
mother were sisters."
On comparing notes, I found that such was the
fact. When I was a boy, and before I left Dublin
for Italy, I remember my mother often mentioning
a nephew of hers, of the name of O'Reilly, who had
been sent to Germany when quite a lad (many years
before) to a relation of his father, who was in the
Irish Brigade at Prague. Young O'Reilly entered
the regiment as a cadet ; he afterwards went into
the Prussian service, but my mother heard no more
of him.
The Captain told me, furthermore, that he had
been cheated some years before out of a small pro-
perty which his father left him in the County Meath,
by a man whom he thought his best friend. " How-
ever," said the Captain, " I had my satisfaction by
calling him out, and putting a bullet through his
hat; but, nevertheless, all the little property that
was left me is gone. But, grace au citl, I have
never sullied my reputation, nor injured mortal, and
for that, ' the gods will take care of Cato.' In all
my misfortunes, cousin, I have never parted with
the family sword, which was never drawn in a dirty
cause ; and there it hangs now in a little cabin
which I have got in the County Meath. Should
ever Freddy Jones discard me, I will end my days
in riposo e pace with the whole universal world."
S46 IIEMINISC'ENCES OF
I have often thought, if Mr. Sheridan or Colmanr
had been acquainted with this worthy, yet eccentric
man, he would have served them as a model for an
Irish character; and how Jack Johnstone would
have acted it. One of the Captain's eccentricities I
had nearly forgotten to mention : he was never
without lemons, shalots, and Cayenne pepper, in a
case in his pocket, which he always produced at
table. The lemons, he said, were to squeeze over
his oysters, a la Francai.se. The shalots for a beef-
steak, a TAnglalse; and the Cayenne for every dish,
foreign and domestic : nor should I, in justice to
my relation, omit a joke of his which is almost as
piquant as his sauce.
One day he was in the streets of Clonmel, when
the Tipperary militia were marching out of that
town ; their Colonel's father had formerly been a
miller, and amassed a large fortune, which he had
bequeathed to the colonel himself. O'Reilly seeing
the gallant officer at the head of the corps, exclaimed,
" By the god of war, here comes Marshal Sacks ?
with tlnejlour of Tipperary at his back."
I quitted Cork for Limerick, with gratitude for
the many favours bestowed upon me by its warm-
hearted inhabitants. I was delighted to see how
much Limerick had improved since I last saw is.
The new town is beautiful. We had only time to
perform four nights there the prices of the theatre
were doubled, the houses overflowed every nighty
MICHAEL KELLY.
all the nobility of the county of Clare poured
into the city, and the hotels and inns were crowded
to excess. I passed a delightful week there ; and
my cousin, the Captain, seemed as much at home in
Limerick as he had been at Cork.
Mr. Logier, the inventor of a method of teaching
music, to which he has given his name, was living
in the barracks at Limerick at that time. He
belonged to the Marquis of Ormonde's regiment of
militia, which was quartered there. The finest
trumpet player I ever heard in any country played
in our orchestra ; his execution on the instrument
almost baffled belief; his name was Willman, and
he is the brother of Mr. Willman, the principal cla-
rionet, and an equally talented perfomer on that
instrument, at the King's Theatre.
On our last night in Limerick, just in the middle of
a most impressive and beautiful duet, which Catalani
and I were singing in " Didone," and at a moment
when the whole house was wrapt in attention, a man
vociferated from the gallery, " Mr. Kelly, will you
be good enough to favour us with ( O thou wert
born to please me ?** " This unexpected request
produced a loud laugh from the audience. Catalani
asked me what the meaning of it was ; I answered,
that it was nothing but a peculiar manner of
applauding. My gallery friend, I suppose, recol-
lected poor Mrs. Crouch and myself, singing " Oh;
248 REMINISCENCES OF
thou wert born to please me," at the same theatre
many years previous, and wished to hear it again.
After concluding my engagement at Limerick,
we returned to Dublin, where we were to perform
six nights, previous to our quitting Ireland. Having
no occasion for rehearsals, I used to visit the envi-
rons every day.
One morning, riding with an old friend of mine,
we saw, near the Black Rock, two strapping, shirt-
less fellows, real sans culottes, on the back of a poor
half-starved horse, which seemed to be sinking
under the weight, hardly able to crawl along the
road. On my friend saying, what a pity it was to
load the poor beast with two outside passengers,
one of the riders who overheard him, cried out,
" Please your honour and glory, Sir, will you be
pleased to tell us, are the hounds far before us ?"
At the close of my engagements in Ireland, I set
off for London, and in Wales, met my friend, Mr.
William Haddocks, who joined me, and a delightful
journey we had. I arrived in Pall-Mali on the
21st of September, and heard with real concern of
the destruction of Covent Garden Theatre, the night
previous, by fire. However, the managers opened
the Opera House in six days (so that the per-
formers suffered little or nothing), with the tragedy
of "Douglas," and the musical entertainment of
" llosina."
MICHAEL KELLY. 249
My first production at Drury Lane this year was
the music to " Venoni," a play by M. G. Lewis,
Esq. It was produced on the 1st December, but
was withdrawn after five nights, not meeting with
success at first. The last act of this piece, as origi-
nally constructed, proved offensive to the feelings of
the audience ; and although the previous acts
excited the deepest interest, and received sufficient
applause, nevertheless the unlucky catastrophe was
as constantly hissed. The author finding the public-
determined on this point, conceived the whimsical
(and, I believe, unexampled) idea of withdrawing
the play for a time, and reproducing it with an
entirely new last act, constructed out of the most
opposite materials from those of the original one.
Strange as this scheme may appear, it succeeded.
" Venoni" re-appeared with a bran-new catastrophe,
and proved a favourite with the town through the
remainder of the season.
Though the destruction of Covent Garden
Theatre fell lightly on the performers, it was
severely felt by the proprietors, particularly by
Kemble, who had staked his all in the purchase of
his share ; however, the sympathy his loss excited
was powerful, and the liberality he met with, noble ;
it was said that his present Majesty presented him
with a thousand pounds, and that the Puke of
Northumberland offered him ten thousand, which
M 5
250 REMINISCENCES OF
he refused as a gift, but accepted as a loan, for s>
term of years, and gave his bond to his Grace for
the re-payment.
There is a little history connected with this sub-
ject, which, from being highly creditable to all
parties concerned, the public may feel pleased to
know :
Mr. Richard Wilson, of Lincoln's Inn Fields,
(whom I am proud to call a friend of mine, having
received many marks of kindness and hospitality
from him, as well as from his lady and amiable-
daughter, now Mrs. Randolph,) was the solicitor
and confidential man of business of his Grace the
late Duke of Northumberland, who, knowing that
he was on terms of intimacy with Kemble, wished
him to prevail upon that great actor to give Earl
Percy, the present Duke, some lessons in elocution.
Kemble, when the request was made, instantly
acceded to it, making only one in return, which was,
that no remuneration should be offered him, as he
felt amply repaid by having it in his power to
gratify the Duke.
The origin of this feeling in Kemble is curious,
and from its trivial nature, not generally known.
He told me himself, that in the year 1779 he was
acting at York, where a play was in preparation, in
the success of which he was deeply interested : the
Duke of Northumberland commanded two troops of
MICHAEL KELLY. 251
the King's own Dragoons, then quartered in the
city. Kemble applied to one of the officers to
permit some of the men off duty to attend the
theatre to walk in the processions, to which appli-
cation he received a somewhat ungracious reply,
accompanied by an observation that the soldiers had
other duties to attend to. He then wrote to the
Duke, to ask his permission, as commanding-officer,
and immediately received a favourable answer.
66 The handsome manner, 1 ' said Kemble to me,
" in which his Grace conferred the favour, enhanced
the obligation, and never has been forgotten by me ;
to be able to evince the feeling I entertain, by shew-
ing his Grace's son every attention in my power, is
my highest gratification and sufficient inducement
to me to become, as you facetiously call me, * a
master of scholars,' which no sum of money could
induce me to do."
On the 31st of December, 1808, the first stone
of the new theatre was laid by his present Majesty,
then Prince of Wales, as Grand Master of Free-
masons ; and a brilliant sight it was. On that day
Kemble, it is reported, received a letter from the
Duke of Northumberland, enclosing the bond for
ten thousand pounds, which I have just mentioned,
in which his Grace said, " That as it was a day of
rejoicing, he concluded there would be a bonfire,
and he requested that the enclosed obligation might
REMINISCENCES OF
be thrown in to heighten the flames." This magni-
ficent donation was worthy of the house of Percy ;
and the delicate and handsome manner in which it
was conferred, richly deserves to be recorded.
On the 24th February, 1809, Mr. Richard
Wilson gave a dinner to the principal actors and
officers of Drury Lane Theatre, at his house in
Lincoln's Inn Fields. All was mirth and glee : it
was about eleven o'clock when Mr. Wilson rose,
and drank " Prosperity and Success to Drury Lane
Theatre ;" we filled a bumper to the toast ; and at
the very moment we were raising the glasses to our
lips, repeating " Success to Drury Lane Theatre,' 1
in rushed the younger Miss Wilson, now Mrs.
Montague Oxenden, and screamed out, that " Drury
Lane Theatre was in flames !" We ran into the
Square, and saw the dreadful sight ; the fire raged
with such fury that it perfectly illuminated Lin-
coln's Inn Fields with the brightness of day. We
proceeded to the scene of destruction; Messrs.
Peake and Dunn, the treasurers, dashed up stairs,
at the hazard of their lives, to the iron chest, in
which papers of the greatest consequence were
deposited. With the aid of two intrepid firemen
they succeeded in getting the chest into the street ;
little else was saved.
I had not only the poignant grief of beholding
the magnificent structure burning with merciless
MICHAEL KELLY. 253
fury, but of knowing that all the scores of the
operas which I had composed for the theatre, the
labour of years, were then consuming: it was an
appalling sight; and, with a heavy heart, I walked
home to Pall Mall.
At the door, I found my servant waiting for me,
who told me that two gentlemen had just called,
and, finding I was not at home, had said, " Tell
your master, when he comes home, that Drury
Lane is now in flames, and that the Opera House
shall go next." I made every effort to trace these
obliging personages, but never heard any thing
more of them.
Mr. Sheridan was in the House of Commons
when the dreadful event was made known, and the
debate was one in which he was taking a prominent
part ; in compliment to his feelings, it was moved
that the House should. adjourn.
Mr. Sheridan said, that he gratefully appreciated
such a mark of attention, but he would not allow an
adjournment, for that u Public duty ought to
precede all private interest ;" and with Roman forti-
tude he remained at his post while his playhouse
was burning.
The next morning, several of the principal
performers called in Pali-Mall to consider what
could be done in the dreadful position of affairs ;
and while we were debating, a message came from
254s REMINISCENCES OF
Mr. Sheridan, to know where he could meet us ?
Wroughton, who was at that time our stage-ma-
nager, asked John Bannister, Dowton, myself,^md
a few more of the principal actors, to dine with
him in Gower Street ; and wrote to Mr. Sheridan
to request he would meet us there, which he punc-
tually did.
After dinner, lamenting the dreadful situation in
which we, as well as himself, were placed by the
conflagration, he said, that the first consideration
was, to find a place where we could perform, under
his " Drury Lane Patent ;"" for, though the theatre
was destroyed, the patent was not, and that he
would make every effort in his power to forward
the interests and wishes of the company, without
any private consideration of his own, until arrange-
ments might be made to rebuild Drury Lane
Theatre. The only request he would make, which
was with him a sine qua non, was, that the whole of
the company, with heart and hand, should stand by
one another, and that there should be no separation ;
" For, 1 ' said he, "I am aware that many of the
principal performers may get profitable engage-
ments at the different provincial theatres, but what
then would become of the inferior ones, some of
whom have large families ? Heaven forbid that they
should be deserted ! No : I most earnestly recom-
mend and entreat, that every individual belonging
MICHAEL KELLY. 255
to the concern should be taken care of. Let us
make a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altoge-
ther ; and, above all, make the general good our sole
consideration. Elect yourselves into a committee ;
but keep in your remembrance even the poor
sweepers of the stage, who, with their children,
must starve, if not protected by your fostering
care."
Such were the sentiments delivered, in my pre-
sence y by Mr. Sheridan, who y on every occasion
which called for the expression of his feeling towards
our profession, shewed himself the warmest advocate
and supporter of its reputation and prosperity ; in
confirmation of which, I cannot refrain from quoting
the following passage from a letter which he wrote
to me some years since, upon my consulting him
as to some matters of importance to my professional
interests :
" In my way," he observes, "of viewing the
profession, and treating its professors, I never con-
sidered it fit that the proprietors, should, everv year,
weigh and gauge the decrease of theatrical power
which time or accident may have occasioned ; and,
overlooking past services, hunt after every change
and substitute which may, for the moment, be ad-
vantageous."
This feeling was highly honourable to Mr. She-
ridan, not only in his character of manager of a.
256 REMINISCENCES OF
theatre, but as indicative of a filial feeling of respect
for the profession of which his father had been a
member, and by the exercise of which, he had been
enabled to give the splendid abilities of his gifted son
the advantages of the best cultivation.
On the 25th March, 1809, the Drury Lane com-
pany performed at the Opera House ;' Mr. Taylor,
the proprietor, having granted the use of his theatre
gratuitously for three nights to the performers.
About this period, Mr. Sheridan took me to dine
with his Grace the Duke of Norfolk, who had a
happy knack of telling a story. One, I remember,
he told us with great naivete.
Amongst his Grace's owls, at Arundel Castle,
was one which was named by its keeper, Lord
Thurlow, from an imaginary likeness between the
bird and his Lordship. One morning, when the
Duke was closeted with his solicitor, with whom he
was in deep consultation upon some electioneering
business, the old owl-keeper knocked at the library
door, and said, " My Lord, I have great news to
ffive your Grace."
& j
" Well," said the Duke, what is it ?"
" Why, my Lord," said the man, " Lord Thur-
low has laid an egg this morning."
Not recollecting, at the moment, that the owl had
been nick-named " Lord Thurlow,' 1 the Duke was
not a little astonished; and, until the keeper ex-
MICHAEL KELLY. 257
plained, the solicitor was dreadfully scandalized by
such an audacious calumny upon a noble Lord, who
had been so long sitting upon the woolsack.
The Drury Lane company, under a licence from
the Lord Chamberlain, commenced, on the llth of
April, 1809, the regular drama, at the Lyceum, in.
the Strand. The opening play was " John Bull ;*"
they closed their season there on the 12th of June,
and re-opened on the 25th of September.
On the 18th of September, 1809, the new Co-
vent Garden Theatre opened with " Macbeth," and
the " Quaker."
On the 25th of October, Mr. Arnold brought out,
at the Lyceum, a musical piece of his own writing,
entitled " The Jubilee." I composed the music,
and it ran a number of nights.
The Drury Lane company were performing at
the Lyceum, under the firm of Tom Sheridan, the
late Colonel Greville, and Mr. Arnold, and were
very successful ; and every person belonging to the
establishment were regularly paid their full salaries.
Tom Sheridan, for some part of the time, was ma-
nager, and evinced great talent and industry. I
had the pleasure of living on terms of intimacy
with him ; and many a time, when he used to come
to town from Cambridge, with his friend, the
Honourable Berkeley Craven, have they favoured
me with their company.
258 EEMINISCENCES OF
Tom Sheridan did not "ape his sire" in all
things ; for whenever he made an appointment, he
was punctuality personified. In every transaction
I had with him, I always found him uniformly cor-
rect; nor did he unfrequently lament his father's
indolence and want of regularity, although he had
(indeed naturally) a high veneration for his talents.
Tom Sheridan had a good voice, and true taste
for music, which, added to his intellectual qualities
and superior accomplishments, caused his society to
be sought with the greatest avidity.
The two Sheridans were supping with me one
night after the opera, at a period when Tom expected
to get into Parliament.
" I think, father," said he, " that many men, who
are called great patriots in the House of Commons,
are great humbugs. For my own part, if I get
into Parliament, I will pledge myself to no party,
but write upon my forehead, in legible characters,
* To be let. 1 "
" And under that, Tom," said his father, " write
' Unfurnished.'"
Tom took the joke, but was even with him on
another occasion.
Mr. Sheridan had a cottage about half a mile from
Hounslow Heath. Tom being very short of cash,
asked his father to let him have some.
" Money I have none," was the reply.
HIICHAEL K.ELLT.
" Be the consequence what it may, money I must
have," said Tom.
" If that is the case, my dear Tom," said the
affectionate parent, " you will find a case of loaded
pistols up-stairs, and a horse ready saddled in the
stable, the night is dark, and you are within half
a mile of Hounslow Heath."
" I understand what you mean," said Tom,
" but I tried that last night. I unluckily stopped
Peake, your treasurer, who told me, that you had
been beforehand with him, and had robbed him of
every sixpence he had in the world."
It is curious, after knowing such stories, and re-
membering the general habits and pursuits of Mr.
Sheridan, to look at the effusions of his muse, in
which he privately vented his feelings.
One day, waiting at his house, I saw under the
table, half a sheet of apparently waste paper ; on
examining it, I found it was a ballad, in Mr. Sheri-
dan's hand-writing; I brought it away with, me,
and have it now in my possession. On my return
home, the words seemed to me beautiful, and I
set them to music. It is, of all my songs, my
greatest favourite, as the poetry always brings to
my mind the mournful recollection of past happy
days. It was also a great favourite with Mr.
Sheridan, and often has he made me sing it to him~
I here insert it :
260 REMINISCENCES OF
I.
No more shall the spring my lost pleasure restore,
Uncheer'd, I still wander alone,
And, sunk in dejection, for ever deplore
The sweets of the days that are gone.
While the sun as it rises, to others shines bright,
I think how it formerly shone ;
While others cull blossoms, I find but a blight,
And sigh for the days that are gone.
TI.
I stray where the dew falls, through moon-lighted groves,
And list to the nightingale's song,
Her plaints still remind me of long banish'd joys,
And the sweets of the days that are gone.
Each dew-drop that steals from the dark eye of night,
Is a tear for the bliss that is flown ;
While others cull blossoms, I fin;l but a blight,
And sigh for the days that are gone.
My kind friends, Major and Mrs. Waring, in the
month of August 1810, were going to spend some
time at Southampton, and make the tour of the Isle
of Wight ; they offered me a seat in their carriage,
which I accepted. We spent a most agreeable
fortnight at Southampton ; the theatre was then
open under the management of Messrs. Kelly and
Maxwell, also managers of the Portsmouth theatre.
Mrs. Siddons, who was in the neighbourhood, on a
visit to Mrs. Fitzhugh, was performing, as were
also my friends Jack Bannister and Pope.
I there saw Mrs. Brereton, an actress belonging
MICHAEL KELLY. 81
to the company, perform Mrs. Haller in the
" Stranger," and thought so highly of it, that I
recommended my friend, George Colman, to engage
her at the Haymarket, which he did ; and after-
wards I recommended her to Drury Lane.
I was delighted with the tour of the Isle of Wight,
where we staid till the beginning of October.
At this time I had frequent invitations from the
late Lord Eardley, to visit his beautiful mansion,
Belvidere, in Kent. I often experienced great hos-
pitality from his Lordship there, as well as in
London, and at Brighton ; and had the pleasure of
meeting Lord and Lady Say and Sele, and their
amiable and accomplished daughter, the Honourable
Miss Twiselton, who is a proficient in music, and
speaks Italian in all its native purity. I did myself
the pleasure, on the 21st of October, 1810, to com-
memorate the natal day of Lord Eardley, by com-
posing the music of an ode, for three voices, written
on the occasion. It was sung by my brother, Cap-
tain Kelly, Mr. Bellamy, and myself, at Belvidere,
before a large company invited on the occasion,
amongst whom were all the artillery officers from
Woolwich : their band was also in attendance:
The day was passed with great hilarity, our noble
host was in high spirits ; and as the jovial glass went
round, told a number of anecdotes ; among others,
one that seemed to amuse his visitors very much.
REMINISCENCES OF
He told us that, a few days previous, he was
walking in the Strand, going to his bankers, Messrs.
Child, near Temple Bar, in company with a friend,
an officer, who had served under the Duke of York,
in Flanders. Walking along, they were followed
by a middle-aged man, rather shabbily dressed, who,
by his brogue, they found to be an Irishman. He
kept close on the heels of the military gentleman,
crying " God preserve your honour, may all bless-
ings from above be showered down upon you ;
there is not a day that my wife, my children, and
myself; do not offer up our prayers, that you may
never lose the use of your legs."
" And pray, my good friend," said the man of
war, " what good have I ever done you, to merit
such unbounded gratitude ?"
" Please your honour," said the man, " you
saved my life, that's all."
" In what way, my good fellow?" asked the officer.
" Please your honour," said the Irishman, " when
you served with the Duke of York, in Flanders, /
was a private in your regiment ; and one hot morn-
ing, you were so deucedly frightened, that you took
to your heels like a lamplighter and ran away ; and
I, because you were my own particular officer, ran
after you ; and thereby saved my life ; for which as
I said before, the blessings of me and mine ever
attend you."
MICHAEL KELLY. 263
His Lordship gave the above anecdote with ge-
nuine humour; and I joined with others in
laughing at the story, but thought of the Italian
proverb, " Se non e vero, e ben trovato."
In the month of February, 1811, "Blue Beard"
was produced at Covent Garden Theatre ; and Mr.
Harris requested me to superintend the getting up
of my music, which I did. On the first morning of
my going to the theatre, at the back of the stage, I
perceived a number of horses, and on inquiry, found
they were to prance about in " Blue Beard." I
was making my way to the green-room, when, in the
middle of the stage, I came in contact with John
Kemble, and pointing to the place where the horses
stood, I thus accosted him,
" Now are we in Ardeu !"
His reply was, " More fools we !" We bowed to
each other, a-la-mode de Noodle and Doodle, in
" Tom Thumb," and passed on without further
remark.
This season, a musical drama, called " Gustavus
Vasa," for which I composed the whole of the
music, was produced. Mr. Young was the hero of
the piece, and acted very finely. Mrs. Dickons was
the heroine, and sang ah 1 the songs allotted to her
with great effect. Few singers possessed so much
i
2G4) UEMINISCEXCES OF
science as Mrs. Dickons ; she, at different periods,
held the situation of first singer at Drury Lane,
Covent Garden, the Lyceum, and Italian Opera
House ; and wherever she was placed, was esteemed
for her many valuable qualities. " Gustavus Vasa"
met with approbation, and was performed a number
of nights.
I went to pass the summer at Wroxton Abbey,
with my kind friend, Lord Guilford. Mr. and Mrs.
Kemble were there on a visit, as was his Lordship's
sister, Lady Charlotte Lindsay ; indeed, the house
was full of visitors, amongst whom was Sir William
Gell. At that time, Lord Guilford was preparing for
his annual theatricals. Footers " Mayor of Garratt,"
and the " Old Maid," were to be represented ; the
part of the " Old Maid" was admirably acted by
Lady Charlotte ; but the favourite piece was the
" Mayor of Garratt," which was thus cast :
Major Sturgeon . . . The EARLOF GUILFOKD.
Sir Jacob Jollup . . . Mr. KEMBLE.
Jerry Sneak The Hon. BARRY ST. LEGER.
Mr. Bruin The Hon. RICHARD ST. LEGER.
Crispin Heel-tap . . . SIR WILLIAM GELL.
Roger Mr. MICHAEL KELLY.
Mrs. Bruin Mrs. KEXMBLE.
Mrs. Sneak LADY CHARLOTTE LINDSAY.
The noble Earl was an inimitable Major Stur-
geon; Lady Charlotte, an excellent Mrs. Sneak;
MICHAEL KELLY. 265
the Honourable Barry St. Leger was extremely
comical and effective ; and the rest of the dramatis
personw were ably filled. But the bonne bouche
of the whole, was the Sir Jacob Jollup of John
Kemble, which he acted with the greatest gravity in
a full bottomed wig. And never did he take more
pains with Coriolanus at Covent Garden, than he
did at Wroxton Abbey with Sir Jacob Jollup.
An old gentleman from Banbury, who had never
seen Kemble act before, sat next him at supper ;
thinking to say something civil, he complimented
him very much on his performance of Sir Jacob.
" Sir," said he, " it was a fine piece of acting ;
but I always understood, that your powers lay
more in the tragic than the comic line."
The sapient observation of this Banbury cake
having been overheard, caused more laughter than
even Kemble's performance.
There were two nights' performances at Wrox-
ton ; on the first, the theatre was open to his Lord-
ship's tenantry, and the farmers and their daughters.
After the performance there was a ball, where the
servants exhibited high life below stairs, and tripped
merrily away with their masters and mistresses ; the
Lord had, perhaps, a kitchen-maid for his partner
the Countess, a footman, or a groom, a melange
which, it must be confessed, appeared highly agree-
able to all parties ; then followed a plentiful sup-
VOL. II. N
266 REMINISCENCES OF
per, at which they enjoyed themselves the remainder
of the night.
The second day's performance was for the nobility
and gentry of the neighbourhood; but the first
audience was always the best pleased, and the loud-
est in applauding. The whole, however, was a
scene of joy and hilarity; and his Lordship was
delighted to witness the happiness which he diffused,
and which was pourtrayed in every countenance.
Lord Guilford did not confine his theatricals
solely to Wroxton Abbey. He treated his nume-
rous tenants in Kent, and the nobility and gentry
within many miles of his magnificent seat at Wal-
dershare, with similar entertainments.
One time I was there, when O'Eeefe's " Son-in-
Law" was acted, in a manner to reflect credit on any
regular theatre. Major Dawkins played the part of
" Bowkit" admirably ; indeed, he possesses a great
deal of theatrical talent. My friend, Mr. Joseph
Maddocks, was an excellent representative of
" Arionelli," and " Orator Mum." I never on any
stage witnessed a better representative in many of
the scenes of " Falstaff." Had he made the stage
his profession, in many characters he would have
stood unrivalled. I have heard Mr. Sheridan say,
that his performance of Sir Anthony Absolute was
unique. I have seen him at the Marquis of Aber-
corn's, at the Priory, and thought Mr. Sheridan's
MICHAEL KELLY. 267
opinion very just. Lord GuilforcTs " Old Cranky,"
in " The Son-in-Law," was excellent; he gave the
song with Stentorian lungs, and true humour. The
whole fortnight I remained there, was nothing but
festivity. Poor Mr. William Maddocks, who was
to have played the character of " Old Vinegar," was
all the time laid up with the gout. But he wrote the
following stanzas, which I set to music, and which
were often sung in full chorus.
SONG.
Written by W. A. MADDOCKS, Esq. M.P., and composed by
MICHAEL KELLY.
I wish I had, I wish I had
Some Muse as Clio fair,
My voice to raise, in lasting praise.
Of festive Waldershare;
Here Comus and his jovial train
Collect from day to day,
Reluctant all to part again,
Time only flies away.
Chorus I wish, &c.
II.
Here all the laughing Hours give birth
To something ever new,
And Wisdom, in the mask of Mirth,
Bids nonsense join the crew.
268 REMINISCENCES OF
The Muses here the buskin fit,
The Graces dance the hay,
Here gives the host to all, but wit,
Eternal holiday.
Chorus I wish, &c.
III.
Then sound the lay then sound the lay,
Aloud full chorus bear,
Commemorate this holiday,
At festive Waldershare.
Long may the host and hostess know
The same delight they give,
And may they, free from every woe,
Long live, this life to live.
Chorus Then sound the lay, &c.
On the 31st of January, 1811, a musical drama,
called " The Peasant Boy," was brought out at the
Lyceum Theatre, for which I composed the whole
of the music. The piece had very good success.
In the middle of March, I composed the music
to a ballet of Deshayes^s composition, at the Opera
House. It was a pretty pastoral, and pleased
much.
On the 10th of June, 1811, an historical play,
called " The Royal Oak," was produced at the
Haymarket. To this drama, also, I composed the
music. Elliston was the representative of the merry
monarch, and it was an excellent piece of acting.
Connected with my recollections of this play,
MICHAEL KELLY. 269
is an anecdote relative to my deceased friend, Lady y
Hamilton, so characteristic of that talented, but
unfortunate woman, and at the same time so de-
monstrative of her warmth of feeling, that I cannot
suffer it to pass unrecorded.
I had composed a plaintive ballad in the second
act, for a Miss Wheatley (formerly a pupil of Att-
wood's), who possessed a fine deep contre alto voice :
the poetry was descriptive of a warrior, who had
fallen in recent battle. Upon the fifth representa-
tion of the new play, Lady Hamilton, with a party
of friends, occupied one of the stage-boxes, appear-
ing all gaiety and animation. Scarcely, however,
had this ballad commenced, when she became tre-
mulous and agitated ; and at its conclusion, upon
the encore being loudly demanded, she exclaimed,
" For God's sake, remove me I cannot bear it.''
Her terrified friends withdrew her from the box,
whence she was immediately conveyed home in
a fainting condition.
The following morning, Miss Wheatley re-
ceived a note from her Ladyship, (to whom she
had previously been unknown,) inviting her to her
house, where, after complimenting her upon the
force and feeling with which she had given the
melody, she added, " The description brought our
glorious Nelson with such terrible truth before my
mind's eye, that you overwhelmed me at the mo-
270 REMINISCENCES OF
ment, but now I feel as if I could listen to you in
that air for ever." She prevailed upon her visitor
to repeat the ballad no less than four times at the
piano-forte, " as if increase of appetite grew by what
it fed upon."
Eventually, so powerful became this senti-
ment, that she induced Miss Wheatley to retire
from the stage altogether, and accept, under her
roof, the post of musical governess to the young
Horatia Nelson, who had been confided to her
Ladyship's guardianship. Not a day afterwards
elapsed, but the favourite song was put in requisi-
tion. I published it under the title of " Rest,
warrior, rest." It was generally esteemed one of my
happiest efforts ; and at the present day is perpe-
tually performed at concerts and music-meetings,
by that delightful singer, the charming Miss M.
Tree, who has given it a renewed fashion and zest.
On the 1st of August, Mr. M. G. Lewis re-
wrote his "Wood Daemon;" he only made use
of the subject several new characters were intro-
duced ; nothing could be more effective. The piece
was then called, " One o'Clock." In conjunction
with M. P. King, I composed the music. It was
got up with great splendour, and had a considerable
run.
August 1811, Signora Bertinotti, Naldi, Signer
Cavini, a very sweet tenor singer, aftd his wife, a very
MICHAEL KELLY. 271
pretty singer, and beautiful woman, Madame Naldi,
Miss Naldi, and myself, were engaged by Mr. Jones
to perform two Italian operas at the Dublin Theatre.
One of them was " II Furbo contro il Furbo ;" the
other, Mozart's " Cos! fan tutte." Signora Berti-
notti, who was one of the most popular prima
donnas on the Italian stage, pleased very much ;
but the houses not answering the expectations either
of ourselves or Mr. Jones, we performed very few
nights, and the party set off, via Belfast, for Scot-
land, to appear under the management of Corri,
at Edinburgh ; afterwards to go back to Liverpool for
a few nights, and then return to London. It was
proposed to me to accompany them, but I declined.
On the 5th of September, 1811, I made my last
appearance on any stage, on the stage where I had
made my first appearance, when a boy, in 1779-
Mr. Bartlett Cooke accompanied me on the flute
and hautboy, when I acted first in 1779, and when
I last performed in 1811, both in my native city.
When I got to Shrewsbury, on my way from
Holyhead to London, while supper was getting
ready, I took up a London newspaper, and the first
thing I saw struck me with astonishment ; I read,
in the Gazette, these portentous words " Bankrupt,
Michael Kelly, of Pali-Mall, music-seller,'" an
announcement so unexpected, confounded me. I
instantly wrote to my principal man of business,
272 REMINISCENCES OF
who had the management of all my money trans-
actions, (his name I shall not mention, for the sake
of his family, part of which I know to be very
respectable,) to know by whom the docket was struck.
Unfortunately for me, I had reposed the greatest
confidence in him, and would have trusted my life,
as well as my property, in his hands. He was re-
commended to me by a particular friend, and came
into my employ a poor man, but he left it amply
stocked with every thing ; and, sans ceremonie, took
himself abroad.
I heard nothing more of him, until I was told
that, from the badness of the climate to which he
went, he was seized with illness, and there died.
When I got to town, I found the docket had
been struck against me by a particular friend of his,
on account of a dishonoured bill. It was certainly
a planned thing : my solicitor, looking into my
affairs (which I unluckily did not), found I was
plunged, by my fidus Achates, deeper in the mire
than I could possibly have imagined ; and therefore
advised me, though my property might have paid
all demands three times over, and though I might
have superseded the commission, to let thebankruptcy
take its course, and so I did, and all the pro-
perty in my saloon was disposed of, for one-tenth
of its value.
To be a professional man, and a trader at the
MICHAEL KELLY. 273
same time, is, I believe, impossible; but this I
found out too late ; for if a man be fond of his pro-
fession, it must, and ought to engross all his time
and thoughts ; and, therefore, he is constantly liable
to be cheated by his subordinates. To a man occu-
pied in the service of the public, his mind fully
occupied with the honourable ambition of standing
well in their opinion, it is perfectly immaterial at
the time, whether meat be four-pence or a shilling a
pound, and so on in all other things ; and from want
of looking into his affairs, which prudence, not
nearly allied to genius, requires him to do, he gets
involved, and sinks deeper and deeper until he is
gone past recovery, while those about him are
revelling and fattening upon his credulity and inat-
tention.
Locke says, in his " Conduct of the Human Un-
derstanding," that " let a man be much engaged
in the contemplation of any one sort of knowledge,
and that alone becomes every thing to him ;" and
from experience, in my own humble way, I found
the philosopher's remark too true. It was, however,
rather an odd coincidence, that the docket of my
unconscious insolvency should have been struck
against me, in London, on the 6th of September,
1811, the very day upon which I made my last
appearance upon any stage, in Dublin.
The Drury Lane company ceased performing a
.
274 REMINISCENCES OF
the Lyceum the 18th June, 1812, with the play of
" John Bull," for the benefit of the British prisoners
in France. On the 29th of the same month, that
luminary of the British stage, Mrs. Siddons, took
leave of the public at Covent Garden Theatre. I
was determined to see her, and got into the orchestra.
The play was " Macbeth ;" she acted Lady Mac-
beth divinely, and looked as beautiful as ever : the
house was crowded to excess. After her sleeping
scene was concluded, the audience unanimously
called for the curtain to drop, and would not allow
the play to finish ; a marked and just compliment to
the most splendid actress the British stage ever pos-
sessed ; and whose private character has little less
contributed to the exaltation of the profession which
she adorned, than the unrivalled greatness of her
public talents.
On the 10th of October, 1812, New Drury Lane
Theatre, built by Mr. Wyatt, one of the sons of the
late well-known architect, opened with " Hamlet,"
under the immediate direction of the Honourable
Thomas Brande, M.P. (now LordDacre,) Mr. Ca-
vendish Bradshaw, the Honourable Douglas Kin-
naird, Samuel Whitbread, Esq. William Adam,
Esq. M.P. Alderman Coombe, M.P. Mr. Peter
Moore, Richard Sharpe, Esq. M.P. Richard Wil-
son, Esq. Lord Holland, Captain Bennett, Launcelot
Holland, Esq. Sir Robert Barclay, Bart. George
MICHAEL KELLY. 275
Templar, Esq. Thomas Hope, Esq. John Dent, Esq.
M.P. the Right Honourable John Mac Mahon,
M.P. Mr. Richard Ironmonger, Mr. Ward, Mr.
Crawford, and George William Leeds, Esq. The
novelty of the house drew full audiences during the
season, under the management of Mr. Arnold.
On the 25th November, 1813, was produced at
Drury Lane, a musical piece, written by Mr.
Arnold, called " Illusion. 1 ' The subject was taken
from the popular tale of " Nourjahad," written by
Mr. Sheridan's mother, the authoress of " Sidney
Biddulph," &c. I composed the music; it was
received with great applause.
On Wednesday, 1st December, 1813, an Ode
was performed at Freemasons' 1 Hall, for the Instal-
lation of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent
and Strathern, as Grand Master of Masons in
England, according to the old institution. The
Ode recited by brother Pope ; the music composed
by brother Kelly. The military band of His Royal
Highness the Duke of Kent, who were Masons,
attended ; together with several eminent profes-
sional singers ; and the whole formed a grand coup-
cTceil. Brother Bellamy sang the following song
with great animation, and it was received with
unanimous applause :
276 REMINISCENCES OF
SONG.
" Mountains may fall, and rocks decay,
And isle on isle be swept away,
But Masonry's primeval truth,
Unbroke by force, unchanged by time,
Shall bloom in renovated youth,
And energy sublime."
The following duet met with the same meal
of approbation :
" For see ! from Heaven the peaceful dove
With olive branch descend ;
Augustus shall with Edward join,
All rivalry to end ;
And taught by their fraternal love,
Our arms, our hearts shall intertwine.
_.
The union to approve,
" Then Edward and Augustus hail !
For now beneath the Brunswick line,
One system shall prevail ;
O'er all the earth, with truths divine,
Shall Masonry extend its sway,
Till time itself shall pass away
In unity to shine."
FULL CHORUS.
' Then, brothers, hail the kind decree
That gave them both to Masonry."
MIt'.HAEL KELLY. 277
The 23rd January, 1818, Mr. Coleridge pro-
duced, at Drury Lane, his tragedy entitled
" Remorse.' 1 There were some musical situations
in the play which I had to compose. The poetry
of the incantation was highly animating; it was
sung by Mrs. Bland, with all the refreshing purity
of her unsophisticated style, and with that chaste
expression and tenderness of feeling which speak
at once as it were to the heart. The chorus of
boatmen chaunting on the water under the convent
walls, and the distant peal of the organ, accom-
panying the monks while singing within the con-
vent chapel, seemed to overcome and soothe the
audience; a thrilling sensation appeared to per-
vade the great mass of congregated humanity, and,
during its performance, it was listened to with un-
divided attention, as if the minds and hearts of all
were rivetted and enthralled by the combination
presented to their notice; and at the conclusion
the applause was loud and protracted.
I was fortunate enough to hear, from the highly-
talented author of the play, that my music was
every thing he could have wished. I felt this as
a high compliment from Mr. Coleridge ; for I un-
derstood, when he was in Sicily, and other parts of
Italy, he had this " Miserere, Domine" set to music
by different Italian composers, none of whom satis-
fied him by giving his poetry the musical expression
which he desired.
278 REMINISCENCES OF
On the 16th June, 1813, I took my annual
benefit at Drury Lane, and brought out the sequel
to the " Beggar's Opera" (Ga/s " Polly,") altered
by Mr. Horace Smith, one of the authors of " The
Rejected Addresses ;" but the subject was a bad
one. I composed new music to it, but it did not
succeed, and was withdrawn.
There was, about this time, a law-suit to come
on, in Dublin, in which I was subpoenaed, against
a Mr. Hime, a music-seller in Dublin, who had
pirated and published a number of my compo-
sitions. I was labouring under severe illness at
the time, and was attended daily by my worthy
friend, Dr. Hooper; however, I had promised to
go, let the consequence be what it might. On
the 13th July, I left Tavistock Row for Dublin,
in a travelling-carriage, in company with Mrs.
Horrebow, Mr. Addison, and Henry Horrebow.
I travelled slowly, and by short stages, (still
being very ill,) and on the seventh day, reached
Holyhead, and put up at the Stanley Arms, kept
by Mr. Spenser, from whom, and his family, I
received the greatest possible attention. I re-
mained nine weeks in his house, as I was unable
to cross the sea, I was told, without the risk of
my life.
While I was there, a little fellow, a great ally
of mine, called upon me every morning. In his
person he verified the old adage, that every eye
MICHAEL KELLY.
forms its own beauty. This said droll little fellow,
surnamed, by the inhabitants of Holyhead, " Billy-
in-the-bowl," though a dwarf, having lost both his
legs, or rather, never having had any, went crawling
about, literally seated in a bowl-dish ; yet, in spite
of his deformities, he captivated the heart of a
beautiful Welch girl, who would have him for
better for worse. Her father, a wealthy farmer,
offered to give her a good fortune, and a young
and handsome man for her husband ; but no !
she would have Billy-in-the-bowl. She bore him
two fine boys, and is, I am told, even now, very
jealous of him.
On the 25th of August, being somewhat re-
stored to health, though still afflicted with the
gout, and unable to venture on a sea voyage, I
quitted Holyhead for the Earl of Guilford's seat,
Wroxton Abbey.
We crossed Bangor Ferry, and I sent Henry
Horrebow on to Jackson's, to get horses; those
which brought us from Gwyndee we left on the
other side of the ferry. I was yet on the beach
alone, in the carriage, unable to move, owing to
my gout. The tide was coming in rapidly ; no
appearance of a human being to extricate me
from what, I thought, a perilous situation ; for
every moment I expected the carriage would be
afloat, and carried down the stream. At length,
280 EEMINISCEXCES OF
by the arrival of horses, I was relieved from my
apprehensions, and proceeded on my way to Auber,
about eight miles from Bangor, where I dined and
slept at the Bull, a charming Welch inn the
accommodation excellent, and the situation tran-
quil and picturesque.
The road from Auber to Conway Ferry is
beautiful. The view of the sea, on one side,
and a highly-cultivated country on the other,
with the lofty mountain of Penman Maur, tow-
ering to the skies, form indeed a splendid pros-
pect; and to add to the earthly beauties round
me, the morning was serene, with a true Neapo-
litan sky.
I crossed the ferry in the carriage; and when
passing Conway Castle, the place where (in the
" Castle Spectre,") it was supposed, " Megin ho,
Megin he," was sung, it gave me great delight
to recal the melody, nor could I resist singing it
all through ; while the boatmen and passengers,
who of course did not participate in the feelings
by which I was actuated, seemed much asto-
nished, and, by their silence, not ill pleased at
the animated manner in which I was singing.
In getting near the shore, I observed a picturesque
castle, about half a mile from the place at which we
were to land ; I inquired of one of the boatmen, to
whom it belonged ; and at that moment, a pleasure
MICHAEL KELLY.
281
boat being alongside of the ferry boat, a gentleman
who was in it, dressed like a sailor, jumped up,
and addressing me, said, " That castle belongs to
Lord Kirkwall, who is expected there to-morrow ;
and I am sure his Lordship will be most happy to
see Mr. Kelly, as long as he can make it convenient
to remain with him. In the mean time, Mr. Kelly,
if you will do me the favour to come into my boat,
and join our fishing-party, I shall be happy to give
you a bed at my house, and a hearty welcome,
and in the morning will accompany you to Lord
KirkwalPs."
I returned the gentleman my acknowledgments
for his politeness, but excused myself, as I was in a
great hurry to continue my journey on pressing
business.
On inquiring of the boatmen who the gentleman
was, they told me it was Colonel Lloyd, who had a
beautiful house near the ferry.
On the 28th of August I got to Warwick, dined
and slept at the Warwick Arms, and the next day
reached Wrox ton Abbey to dinner, where I was
received by the noble host and hostess with their
usual kindness and attention. On the 3rd of Sep-
tember, I went with Lord Guilford to Banbury,
where, as Lord High Steward, he gave a dinner to
the mayor and aldermen, with whom he was won-
derfully popular. I remained at Wroxton till the
end of September.
282 REMINISCENCES OF
The day before I took my departure, my ever-
kind patron said to me, " My dear Mic, do not be
in such a hurry to leave us ; stay here a fortnight
longer ; stay a month ; or (at the same time shaking
me by the hand), stay here for ever. When we
were rifling the other day near the entrance of the
park, you were admiring a spot of ground there,
and saying, how happy you should be to spend the
remainder of your days there ; and so you shall, if
you keep in the same mind. You have no family ; I
will build you a cottage on that very spot, where
you shall not have the trouble of going up and
down stairs ; you shall have a garden, and a pad-
dock for a poney, and a cow attached to it;
remember this is a serious promise ; and, whenever
you quit public life, I will fulfil it: we will be
neighbours, Mic ; my wife shall sing with you, my
chaplain shall drink with you, and I will talk
with you.' 1
This liberal offer, and the kind-hearted manner
in which it was made, deeply affected me. But
death deprived me of my patron and friend. He
went to Italy, where he died on the 28th of January,
1817, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, esteemed
and regretted by all who had the happiness of being
acquainted with the qualities of his head and heart.
His amiable Countess did not long survive his
lamented loss.
On the 26th of January, 1814, 1 had the pleasure
MICHAEL KELLY. 283
to witness the first appearance of Mr. Kean, as
Shylock, in " The Merchant of Venice," and was
delighted with the performance of my original Cu-
pid in " Cymon." There was not a good house,
but the audience gave him that applause, on his
entree, which they are always liberal enough to
bestow on a first appearance ; but during the prin-
cipal part of his scenes in the play, and at his exit,
the applause lasted for some moments.
It is pretty generally known, that Mr. Whitbread
received a letter from the Rev. Dr. Drury, recom-
mending Mr. Kean in such strong terms to Drury
Lane Theatre, that Mr. Whitbread requested Mr.
Arnold to go to Dorchester (I think) to see, and
engage him for Drury Lane : Mr. Arnold dined
with me on the very day he set off* on his mission.
He saw Mr. Kean in a principal part in a play, and
after it, as Harlequin, in a pantomime : in the lat- /
ter character, he is universally allowed to have no
competitor. Mr. Arnold, with a discerning eye,
saw his merit, and offered him terms for Drury
Lane, which he could not accept; as a few days
previous to Mr. Arnold's seeing him, he had en-
gaged himself to the manager of the Olympic
Theatre, in Wych Street, as principal Harlequin, y
and to superintend the getting up of the pantomimes,
for which he was to receive two or three pounds per
week. Mr. Arnold and the Drury Lane Commit-
REMINISCENCES OF
tee made interest with the proprietor of the Olympic,
to let Kean off his engagement, which he liberally
consented to do.
I was present at his first appearance in " Richard
the Third ;" there was a crowded house, and I be-
lieve that his acting that part drew more money to the
treasury than any other actor's ever did. I wrote
to him, to know if he had ever been in Ireland ; in
his reply he informed me he had been to Waterford,
but never to Dublin. I wrote to my friend Jones,
recommending him strongly to make him the best
offer his theatre could afford, as I was sure he would
draw him full houses every night. Mr. Jones wrote
to me immediately, saying, he would give him simi-
lar terms to those which Mrs. Siddons and Mr.
Kemble had. Kean accepted them, and set off for
Dublin, accompanied by my friend, Pope, who was
also instrumental in procuring him the engagement.
He drew a crowded audience every time he acted :
Pope performed with him in all his plays, and for
his reward had a good house at his benefit.
In my humble opinion, Kean's acting in the third
act of " Othello, 1 ' is his best performance. The
first night he acted it at Drury Lane, I sat in my
seat in the orchestra, which was appropriated to me,
as Director of the Music; and next to me was Lord
Byron, who said, " Mr. Kelly, depend upon it, this
is a man of genius,"
MICHAEL KELLY. 285
Mr. Sheridan, though very curious to see him,
would not go to the theatre ; having made a vow,
in consequence of some offence he had received from
the Committee of Management, never to enter its
walls. Mrs. Sheridan, who at this time was very ill,
and confined for many weeks, had also a great curio-
sity to see Mr. Kean perform the part of u Othello ;"
but as she could not venture to the theatre, Mr.
Sheridan requested Kean to come to his house, and
read the play ; which he did.
The following day I saw Sheridan, and asked his
opinion of Kean ; he told me he was very much
pleased with him that he had once studied the part
of Othello himself, to act at Sir Watkin William
Wynnes private theatre, in Wales ; and that Keaif s
conception of Othello was the precise counterpart
of his own. This, which, as it was intended, no
doubt, for a compliment, would have sounded like
vanity in any body else, in a man of Mr. Sheridan's
acknowledged ability, must have been highly flat-
tering to Mr. Kean. I have always considered Mr.
Kean an actor of great genius ; but I feel much
pleasure in mentioning a trait in his private charac-
ter, which came under my own cognizance. There
was a Mr. Conyngham, a native of Ireland, who,
in former days, I remember a favourite with the
Irish audience, and for many years a member of the
286 REMINISCENCES OF
Bath company. He was acting at Brighton his
circumstances were not the most flourishing, and a
good benefit would, he said, release him from all his
embarrassments. A brother actor advised him to
write to Mr. Kean ; for if he would come and act
for his benefit, he might be assured of an over-
flowing house.
" My good fellow," replied Conyngham, " I
should be afraid to make so ' bold a request. It is
true, at one time, when we were acting together,
we were very intimate, and he was a good-natured
fellow; but Ned Kean, then the strolling-player,
and Mr. Kean, the prop of Drury Lane Theatre,
are not one and the same person."
Conyngham, however, was persuaded to write to
Kean, and received the following letter in reply,
which I have read.
" DEAR TOM,
<( I am sorry that you are not as comfortable in life as I wish
you ; put me up for any of my plays next Thursday, and I shall
be most happy to act for your benefit. In the mean time, accept
the enclosed trifle to make the pot boil."
The enclosure was a ten-pound note.
On the Thursday he arrived at Brighton, and his
performance drew poor Conyngham an overflowing
audience. But nothing could induce him to accept
one sixpence for his travelling or other incidental
MICHAEL KELLY. 287
expenses : to descant on the kindness of such an
action is useless it speaks for itself.
On the 16th of June, Drury Lane was honoured
with the presence of the Emperor of Russia and
King of Prussia ; and, on the 17th, they conferred
the same honour on Covent Garden Theatre. Their
reception by the audience was enthusiastic.
This season, my worthy friends, John Bannister,
Mr. Heath, the eminent engraver, and Mr. Nield,
the solicitor, made a party to go to Paris. I agreed
to accompany them ; and took Henry Horrebow,
then quite a boy, with us. None of the party, with
the exception of myself, could speak French. How-
ever, we had a delightful journey. We stopped a
day and a half at Calais, where I hired an excellent
roomy post-coach, with three horses ; and made an
agreement, that we should be set down on the fourth
day at Paris, or be on the road eight days at our
option ; the latter seemed most agreeable to my
party, as they wished to see every thing worth look-
ing at on the road, and none of us were pressed for
time.
Our coachman, with whom I made the agreement,
was very communicative. One part of the road,
between Calais and Boulogne, was rather bad. Our
coachman was walking by the side of the coach, and
1 was singing the romance, in " Richard Coeur de
Lion." " Bravo ! bravo !" exclaimed coachee ; sur
288 REMINISCENCES OF
mon honneur, vous chantez tres-Uen and sing as
if you knew music too. Allans, done venire bleu
let you and I sing a duet."
" With all my soul," said I.
He asked me if I knew the duet in the Opera of
Nina." I told him I did.
" Allans done, commences? said he ; and to it
we went, pell-mell he had a strong bass voice, and
sang perfectly in tune. After the duet, he sang the
songs of " O, Richard ! O, mon Roi !" and the chan-
son, " Je suis Lindor," with excellent expression,
and much to our astonishment.
We arrived at Boulogne-sur-mer, and alighted at
Mrs. Parker's Hotel, where we had an excellent
dinner, and good beds ; and set off early the next
morning for Montreuil. We here lost our chaunting
guide, which I at first regretted ; his successor was
quite a young man, very good-natured, and of en-
gaging manners ; so much so, that we christened
him Le Fevre. While we were at breakfast, I ex-
pressed my surprise to Le Fevre, at hearing the
coachman, who drove us from Calais to Boulogne
sing so well. " Sir," said he, " that gentleman is
considered, amongst us, a perfectly good musician.
A few years back, he was a captain in the army,
but very dissipated and wild in short, there was
no end to his extravagance. His father left him a
pretty patrimony, which he soon got rid of ; and
2
MICHAEL KELLY. 289
for reasons, with which I am not acquainted, he
was obliged to give up his commission, and leave the
army, and now gains his living by driving a coach
between Calais and Boulogne ; but let him only have
his music, his brandy, and his pipe, he will sing,
drink, and smoke day and night, and seems the
happiest man in all France. 1 "
At that time, recent as is the date of the occur-
rence, reverses like these were not so common in
England as they are now ; at present, extravagance
in time of war, and half-pay in time of peace, have
driven men to drive coaches, who had every just
expectation at one time of keeping them ; but, " all
the world's a stage," and it is not at all anomalous,
to find some obliged to take up with the commonest
fare ; nor is any employment, for the support of a
family, to be considered dishonourable, which is
not dishonest.
At Montreuil, we went to the hotel kept by the
two Brothers with enormous Cocked Hats; the
eldest, near ninety years of age, in full possession
of all his faculties, was as garrulous as need be.
He seemed very proud of having known Sterne, /
with whom, he told us, he had conversed, and
whom he remembered perfectly.
I. would advise those who are fond of good-living,
and particularly of woodcock- pies, to dine at Mon-
VOL. ir. o
290 REMINISCENCES OF
treuil, the younger Cocked Hat is esteemed a
perfect cordon bleu in cookery.
We slept at Abbeville, at the Hotel de TEurope,
an excellent house. We took luncheon at'Beau-
vais, where it was market-day ; and the street, in
which our inn was situated, was crowded with
market-people, listening to a French ballad-singer,
roaring away on the steps of the coffee-house, op-
posite to our inn. I was in high spirits, and deter-
mined to rival the said Stentorian ballad-singer ; so I
mounted the steps, and sang a strophe of a French
song. The crowd gave me great applause, and loud
cheering ; so much indeed, that the mistress of the
coffee-house declared, that if I would remain at
Beauvais, and sing to the frequenters of her coffee-
room, she would board and lodge me, free of ex-
pense.
After loitering on the road for six days, on the
seventh (Sunday) we arrived at Paris, where lodg-
ings had been taken for us by the elder Vestris,
close to the Boulevard du Temple, which were very
comfortable. We passed a delightful time while we
remained at Paris.
We went one evening to the Theatre Vaudeville,
and saw the first representation of " La Route &
Paris." Joly, the favourite actor, played several
characters in different disguises. His personification
MICHAEL KELLY. 291
f an English gouty Lord, was perfect. Bannister
thought him excellent. Madame Belmont, the ori-
ginal Fanchon, belonged to this theatre ; and is an
excellent actress, and a fine woman. We also wit-
nessed the first representation of the " Two Boxers,"
at the Theatre des Varietes, performed by those
two excellent comic actors, Brunet and Potier. In
the line of simple characters, there are no actors
like them, they are real comedians, without buf-
foonery or grimace.
We accompanied Mr. Heath on a visit to the late
Monsieur Denon, the once favourite of Buonaparte.
He resided in a fine house upon the Quai Voltaire,
furnished in a style of the greatest magnificence. His
oictures, prints, cameos, intaglios, statues, &c. were
of the first description. Indeed, when accompany-
ing Buonaparte in Egypt, Italy, &c. he had the
picking and choosing of the best ; and, to do him
justice, he did not appear to have forgotten number
one.
He received us with the greatest politeness, in-
quired most affectionately after Mr. Heath's son,
with whom he was very well acquainted ; and spoke
with the most unqualified praise of his talents as an
artist, and the amiability of his character as a private
individual.
Denon's countenance was replete with intelligence
and genius.* I introduced Bannister to him, as one
REMINISCENCES OF
of our first-rate actors : he said, of that he had no
doubt, as Mr. Bannister had a fine stage face, and
the eye of a good comedian. He gave us recom-
mendations, for the purpose of viewing all the
public institutes, colleges, mint, &c. in Paris, which
were of great service to us, as they gave us an entree
to all those places. We were daily visitors at the
Louvre, and were, of course, highly delighted with
the works there. Mr. Glover, the English artist,
had permission to copy some pictures, and was
every day to be seen at work in the gallery. I
met there, one morning, my countryman, of whom
I have before spoken, Mr. Curran. I asked his
opinion of Paris; he replied, that he thought it
u mixture of dirt and magnificence that some of
their buildings were very superb, but when once
seen, that was sufficient for him ; for his own part,
he had not the smallest wish to encore a building.
o
My friend, Madame Grassini, was living in the
Rue d'Anjou. I dined with her, in company with
the celebrated composer Paer, an excellent and jolly
fellow. I have seen him take his bottle of cham-
pagne, and two of burgundy ; after coffee, two or
three glasses of brandy, by way of chasse, quit the
table as sober as a judge, and sit down to the piano-
forte, on which instrument he excelled ; he also sang
with infinite grace and expression.
In the evening, Madame Grassini had a musical
MICHAEL KELLY. 293
party, at which I was introduced to Mr. and Mrs.
Crawford, who, extraordinary to say, had, during
the whole period of the Revolution, remained at
their house in the Rue (TAnjou, unmolested by any
of the different ruling powers. Grassini, at this
period, renewed her engagement for the ensuing
season, at the Opera House, with Mr. Waters.
My party were very much struck with the water-
works of Marly, the magnificence of Versailles, the
Petite Trianon, JMalmaison, and St. Cloud ; the
latter was my favourite. We were shewn every
thing worth seeing, and, amongst other curiosities,
the chair in which Buonaparte used to sit when he
held a council. The person who explained every
thing to us, made us examine the number of notches
made in it by Buonaparte, who, while giving au-
dience, or transacting business, had a habit of holding
a penknife in his hand, and was continually making
cuts in the chair, more or less, as he felt pleased, or
otherwise. It was said, that when in the council
chamber, he would never sit in any other chair.
Our cicerone informed us, that he was seated in it
when he gave an audience to the Russian ambas-
sador; and on giving him a paper, said ''Read,
sign, and be off." That was said to be the only
conversation which passed between them ; and from
the tyrant's genuine character, it seems very pro-
BEMINISCENCES OF
bable to have been so. The ambassador made no
reply, and retired.
The day after our return from St. Cloud, we
went to the fair of Vincennes, which was crowded
with booths, mountebanks, puppet-shows, &c. From
this merry scene we turned to the mournful task
of viewing the castle of Vincennes ; and the spot
where the ill-fated Duke d'Enghien was, by the
sanguinary orders of Buonaparte, barbarously mur-
dered.
Bannister and Heath were obliged to return to
England, the former to fulfil his engagements*
and the latter upon business. The last day they
remained in Paris, we devoted to see Montmartre ;
the view of Paris, from the summit of which, is very
magnificent.
I was one evening in company, at Madame Gras-
sini's, with a Parisian lady, who had just returned
from London, where she had been passing the
winter. I asked her how she liked that city?
" To say the truth," she replied, " I like two things
in London passing well ; par exemple, the pave-
ment of your streets, and the mock turtle of your
kitchens ; in every thing else, Paris is far preferable.
I stopped some days longer in England than I at
first intended, out of curiosity to see the sun ; but
the whole time I was there, he never was coinpla:-
MICHAEL KELLY. 295
sant enough to make his appearance." And yet I
was informed this lady was a person of some consi-
deration in Paris, and reckoned mighty clever.
My friends took their departure for Rouen, in
their way to Dieppe. I had some business to de-
tain me in Paris a week longer, and then purposed
following them ; but on the eve of my leaving Paris,
I was seized with the gout, and kept my bed for
ten days. When I was able to move, I hired a
cabriolet, and with Henry Horrebow, set off post
for Rouen. The first day I was in such pain I
could not get farther than Pontoise, a town famous
for the excellence of its veal. The next day I
reached Rouen, and put up at the Hotel de France,
an excellent house. The peasants of Normandy
seemed to enjoy themselves ; for, in every village
through which I passed, they were .either dancing
or playing at various games. I got to a late dinner
at Dieppe, and truly glad I was, as my gout was
increasing. My hotel on the quay was lively enough ;
I saw every thing passing, and remained there five
days, waiting for a fair wind for Brighton ; and, what
was rather strange to meet with in France, I got
some of the finest old port wine I ever tasted.
There were three professors of music from Lon-
don, of the name of Hams, waiting at Dieppe, as
well as myself, for a fair wind, who did me the
favour every evening to come and sit with me, and
296 REMINISCENCES OF
were very agreeable company. On the fifth even-
ing, the wind being fair, the Neptune packet was to
sail for Brighton. Though unable to move hand
or foot, I was determined to go in it; and was
carried, in gi~at torture, by four seamen, on board,
and packed into my birth. If to have a seven-
teen hours' rough passage, a violent sea sickness,
with a twinging fit of the gout at the same time, be
not enough to put a poor fellow's patience to the
proof, I know not what is. I sent Henry with the
passengers on shore in the first boat to procure a
carriage, as I could not walk ; and remained on
board the packet until he returned with a sedaii-
chair for me on the beach. I was lifted from the
packet into the boat ; and luckily Mr. Addison,
who was walking on the beach at the time, ran to
the Old Ship, and secured me accommodations there.
I got better every hour; and the kind attention
paid me by Mr. Shugard, the landlord, Mrs. Shu-
gard, and all their family, I shall always be* happy
to acknowledge.
I found, at Brighton, my friends Philips, Mrs.
Philips, Miss Johnstone (now Mrs. Wallack),
Messrs. Maddocks, Charles Mathews, Mrs. Ma-
thews, Mr. and Mrs. Poole, and some Irish friends,
all forming a party at a boarding-house on the
J i and Parade. They were like one family; the
mistress of the house, a Mrs. White, kept an excel-
MICHAEL KELLY.
lent -and plentiful table. Mathews was in excellent
spirits, and kept every one alive : there was only
one damper, in the shape of an old East Indian
officer, just returned from Calcutta, who was most
unbending, and did not in the least relish their
innocent mirth, for the slightest noise brought on
a fit of bile ; so that for fear of being disturbed at
night, he never went to his bed until every inmate,
servants and all, were in theirs.
His bed-chamber adjoined the dining parlour :
my friends were kind enough to wish me to join
their social party, but that was not feasible, as there
was no bed-room in the house unoccupied ; how-
ever, they determined among themselves to have me
in, and the Nabob out ; for which purpose, at the
solemn hour of midnight, when all the house were
thought to be at rest, Mathews left his room, and
on the stair-case began howling and barking in
different tones, in imitation of a kennel of hounds,
and squalling and mewing with all his might, like a
dozen of wild cats. The Nabob was terrified, and
declared the next morning at breakfast, that he
would not pass such another miserable night to be
made Commander-in-Chief. The second night he
had another dose, if possible, more potent than the
first. The scheme succeeded; for the following
morning the restless Nabob requested Mrs. White
to let him give up his bed-room in the house, and
o 5
298 REMINISCENCES OF
remain with her as a boarder only. He took a
lodging in the next street, and I became possessed
of his bed-chamber. He soon found out the cause
of the noises, which, he said, at first he implicitly
believed came from a legion of demons. I thought
myself extremely fortunate in becoming his locum
tenenSy a situation which I could not have attained
but for the excellent imitations of my friend Mathews,
combined with the good wishes of my other friends,
who were inmates of the house.
At the theatre at Brighton, Mr. Harley (then a
provincial performer in Mr. Trotter's company) was
acting. I went to see him in " Bombastes Furioso,"
in which he introduced a song of his own writing to
Braham's air, " Said a smile to a tear/ 1 from the
opera of " False Alarms." His acting and singing
pleased me so much, that I wrote the next day to
Mr. Arnold, recommending him as a most promising
subject, more particularly for his own theatre, the
English Opera House; and strenuously advised
him to engage Harley without delay. By return of
post, I received Mr. Arnold's reply, enclosing his
proposals for an engagement, which Mr. Harley ac-
cepted. The rapid strides he has made, and is still
making, in the good opinion of the public, and his
employers, prove that my early opinion of his merits
was not without foundation ; and I am happy to
have been, in some degree, instrumental in intro-
MICHAEL KELLY. 299
ducing so useful an actor, and worthy a young man,
to the London stage. He made his first appearance
in London, at the English Opera House, on the
15th of July, 1815, in the part of Marcelli, in the
opera of " The Devil's Bridge."
I remained at Brighton, until summoned by Mr.
Arnold to Drury Lane, to get up and superintend
the music in Macbeth, which was to be produced
with uncommon splendour for Mr. Kean. I had
all the principal vocal performers in the choruses ;
who all, as well as a numerous list of choral singers,
both male and female, took infinite pains to execute
the charming productions in a style unequalled in
my remembrance; and the enthusiastic applause
which the audience gave them, was commensurate
with their merits. It was a rare and novel sight, to
see so great a body of English chorus singers on the
stage, full of appropriate and animated action. Yet
in the instance I speak of, such things were; I
cannot say such things are, they find it, perhaps,
too troublesome.
I went to see the first appearance of my country-
woman, Miss O'Neil, who made her entree at Covent
Garden Theatre, on the 6th of October, 1814; and
had the satisfaction of finding her received by the
audience with the admiration and applause which
she ever afterwards deservedly enjoyed until her
retirement from the stage, on her marriage.
Though I had not the pleasure of being personally
300 REMINISCENCES OF
acquainted with Miss O'Neil, I felt a great interest
for her success. The following anecdote, I believe
very little known in the theatrical world, I had
from Mr. Jones, the patentee of Crow-street Thea-
tre. Miss Walstein, who was the heroine of the
Dublin stage, and a great and deserved favourite,
was to open the theatre, in the character of Juliet.
Mr. Jones received an intimation from MissWalstein,
that withe Ait a certain increase of salary, and other
privileges, she would not come to the house. Mr.
Jones had arrived at the determination to shut up
his theatre, sconer than submit to what he thought
an unwarrantable demand; when Mac Nally, the
box-keeper, who had been the bearer of Miss
Walstein's message, told Mr. Jones, " that it would
be a pity to close the house, and that there was a
remedy, if Mr. Jones chose to avail himself of it."
" The girl, Sir," said he, " who has been so often
strongly recommended to you as a promising actress,
is now at an hotel in Dublin, with her father and
brother, where they have just arrived, and is pro-
ceeding to Drogheda, to act at her father's theatre
there. I have heard it said, by persons who have
seen her, that she plays Juliet extremely well, and
is very young and very pretty. I am sure she
would be delighted to have the opportunity of
appearing before a Dublin audience ; and, if you
please, I will make her the proposal."
The proposal was made, and accepted ; and on the
MICHAEL KELLY. 301
following Saturday the girl, who was Miss CTNeil,
made her debut on the Dublin stage as Juliet. The
audience were delighted ; she acted the part several
nights, and Mr. Jones offered her father and brother
engagements on very liberal terms, which were
thankfully accepted.
In Dublin, she was not only a great favourite in
tragedy, but also in many parts of genteel comedy. I
have there seen her play "Letitia Hardy ;" she danced
very gracefully, and introduced my song, " In the
rough blast heaves the billows, 1 " originally sung by
Mrs. Jordan, at Drury Lane, which she sang so
well, as to produce a general call for its repetition
from the audience. She was, in private life, highly
esteemed for her many amiable qualities. Her en-
gagement in Dublin wafted Miss Walstein from
Dublin, (where she had been for many years the
heroine of Crow Street) to Drury Lane, where she
made her appearance as Calista, in " The Fair
Penitent," on the 13th of November, 1814, but
only remained one season.
On the 7th of February, 1815, Miss Mellon
quitted the stage she made her last appearance at
Drury Lane, in the character of Aubrey, in " As
you like it."
On the 29th of March, Mr. Arnold produced the
opera, entitled " The Unknown Guest;" the sub-
ject was taken from a French drama, and managed
80 REMINISCENCES OF
by Mr. Arnold with great adroitness. There
were some excellent dramatic situations, and some
good poetry he rendered the piece attractive for a
few nights the music I composed.
On the 4th of May, Mrs. Mountain had a
benefit at the Opera House, and retired from
the stage.
On the 1st of June, 1815, the drama sustained
an irreparable loss in the retirement of the
worthy, honest, Jack Bannister, esteemed, be-
loved, and respected : his career on the stage was
long and successful. He made his entree before
the public, at the Little Theatre, in the Hay-
market, in the character of Dick, in Murphy^s
farce of "The Apprentice," on the 27th of
August, 1 778. I lived in habits of intimacy with
him for many years; and he has often mentioned
to me Mr. Garrick's partiality for him, who thought
his talents much more calculated for tragedy than
comedy. He played Zaphne, in " Mahomet/
" Hamlet,' 1 and many other tragic characters. But
at last, his comic powers were called into action.
In " Dabble, the Dentist," in my good and kind
friend, Mr. Cobb's farce of " The Humourist,"
and"Tim Tartlet, in " The First Floor," he burst
on the town as a low comedian. On the demise of
Edwin, the wide range of comic characters, so ably
performed by that truly eccentric actor, at the
MICHAEL KELLT.
Little Theatre, in the Haymarket, devolved upon
Bannister. In Bovvkit, in "The Son-in-Law,"
" Peeping Tom,"' &c. he was eminently successful-.
In " The Prize," in " Of Age To-morrow ;" and
in a number of characters, in the outre line of
acting, he had no competitor ; but, his great part
of all, was Walter, in " The Children in the
Wood."" I saw him in that character, the first
night it came out, at the Haymarket, and wit-
nessed also his last appearance in it for his
benefit, at Prury Lane; and he then acted the
part as finely as on the first night of its repre-
sentation. With extreme emotion, but with a firm
tone of voice, at the close of the afterpiece, he
advanced to the audience, whom he addressed, in
a speech, the latter part of which I fully recol-
lect: his words were " Consideration of health
warns me to retire ; your patronage has given me
the means of doing so with comfort. This moment
of quitting you, nearly overcomes me. At a period
when gratitude and respect call upon me, to express
my feelings with more eloquence than I could
ever boast, those feelings deprive me of half the
humble powers I may possess on ordinary occasions.
Farewell, my kind, my dear benefactors."
At the conclusion of his speech, he bowed
respectfully to the audience, and was led off
REMINISCENCES OF
by all the performers of the Theatre, who attended to
witness his farewell. No performer ever quitted the
stage more deservedly respected or regretted. He
had been seven and thirty years on Drury Lane
stage ; and, I am happy to say, that, independent
of a few attacks of the gout, which all virtuous
persons are more or less subject to, he enjoys
the comfort of his well-earned fortune, surrounded
by his amiable wife and family : that he may long
continue to do so, is my most ardent prayer.
This season was also the last of Mr. Wrough-
ton's appearance on the stage. He was a most
intimate friend of Bannister they were scarcely
ever to be seen asunder. I used to nick-name
them u Orestes and Pylades." Wroughton was
for many years stage-manager of Drury Lane
Theatre, and had also been, for a number of
years, proprietor of Sadler's Wells, and was sup-
posed to have made a great deal of money by
that place of amusement. Wroughton was a ster-
ling, sound, sensible performer he never gave
offence as an actor ; and in many parts was truly
good. His Sir John Restless, in " All in the
Wrong,"" Ford, in " The Merry Wives of
Windsor," were among them. But, in my opi-
nion, his performance of the part of Darlemont,
in the play of " Deaf and Dumb," was a master-
MICHAEL KELLY. 305
piece of the arc, and ranked with Cooke's Sir
Pertinax Macsycophant, KeinbleV Penruddock,
or Dowtou's Doctor Cantwell.
The stage, this season, nearly sustained a loss
in Miss Kelly ; for, while acting in O'Keefe's farce
of " The Merry Mourners," a pistol-shot was fired
at her from the pit, on the 17th of February, 1816,
at Drury Lane Theatre, by a Mr. Barnet, who,
when taken into custody, proved to be a complete
maniac. I was at the theatre at the time.
Mrs. Siddons re-appeared at Covent Garden
Theatre (by the express desire of Her Royal
Highness the late Princess Charlotte of Wales,
who expressed a wish to see her perform Lady
Macbeth), on the 16th of June, 1816 ; but the
sudden indisposition of the Princess Charlotte,
prevented Her Royal Highness attending the
theatre that evening.
I had now to experience the loss of a true
and sincere friend, in the death of that great
man, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, who expired at
his house in Saville Row, on the 7th July, 1816
aged sixty-five. The body was removed to the
house of Mr. Peter Moore, Member for Coven-
try, and thence the Saturday following to West-
minster Abbey, near those of Addison, Garrick,
and Cumberland, followed by the Dukes of York
and Sussex. The pall was borne by the Duke
306 REMINISCENCES OF
of Bedford, Lord Holland, Earl of Mulgrave>
Earl of Lauderdale, the Bishop of London, and
Lord Robert Spencer. His son, Mr. Charles
Brinsley Sheridan, was chief mourner, supported
by Mr. Henry Ogle, The Honourable Edward
Bouverie, Mr. William Linley, Sir Charles Asgill,
Bart. Mr. Charles Ward ; followed by a numerous
train of the admirers of his splendid talents.
Where the body [lies, there is a plain flat stone,
with this inscription :
RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN,
Born 1751 ; Died 7th July, 1816.
This Marble is the Tribute of an attached Friend,
PETER MOORE.
There were reports industriously circulated
through the kingdom, that Mr. Sheridan, in his
latter moments, was left in want of the common
necessaries of life ; and the malignant propaga-
tors of the report, went so far to gratify their
own malice, as to assert that he called for a
lemon, when exhausted with thirst, and that
neither he, nor those about him, had the means
of procuring him one. I, amongst a thousand
others, heard this foolish tale asserted ; but I can
solemnly aver, from my own knowledge, and from
MICHAEL KELLY. SOT
the evidence of those who were nearest and dearest
to him, and who remained with him in his last
moments, that all such reports were groundless,
and fabricated for the most atrocious purposes of
scandal.
These dealers in malignity stated, that the sum
of two hundred pounds was conveyed to Mr. She-
ridan in a way that wounded his feelings, and
returned by his direction, with the resentment of
wounded pride. It is true, the money was sent,
but in a totally different manner to that described,
and returned in a totally different manner to what
the world was taught to believe. The real fact is,
that Mr. Sheridan's physician, then attending him?
and also one of his most intimate friends, under-
took to deliver it back to the illustrious donor,
and, with all respect, to assure him that Mr. She^
ridan was in want of no pecuniary assistance.
I sent, a few days before he died, for his own man,
who was in attendance on him during the whole of
his illness, and whom I knew to be faithfully attached
to his master. He can testify that I entreated him to
inform me if his master was in want of any comforts,
for with any thing my means would afford I would
furnish him ; but not to let him or the family know
it came from me, Jolm assured me that his master
was in want of nothing, and that those who had re-
ported to the contrary, and made up libelous and
808 REMINISCENCES OF
injurious tales upon the subject, spoke falsely, and
were base calumniators.
The loss I sustained by Mr. Sheridan's death, I
can but faintly depict : he was, as a companion and
friend, to me beyond measure invaluable ; his rea-
diness and taste were conspicuous ; his wit, though
luxuriant and unbounded, never intrusive; and
during the five and twenty years through which I
enjoyed his friendship and society, I never heard
him say a single word that could wound the feel-
ings of a human being.
His quickness in writing may be judged of by the
circumstances I have already mentioned, relative
to the state in which his " Pizarro" was produced,
and he made a similar exertion at the time he
brought out " The Critic." Two days previous to
the performance, the last scene was not written ;
Dr. Ford and Mr. Linley, the joint proprietors,
began to get nervous and fidgetty, and the actors
were absolutely au desespoir, especially King, who
was not only stage-manager, but had to. play Puff;
to him was assigned the duty of hunting down
and worrying Sheridan about the last scene ; day
after day passed, until, as I have just said, the last
day but two arrived, and it made not its appearance.
At last, Mr. Linley, who being his father-in-law,
was pretty well aware of his habits, hit upon a stra-
tagem. A night rehearsal of " The Critic" was
MICHAEL KELLY. 309
ordered, and Sheridan, having dined with Linley,
was prevailed upon to go ; while they were on the
stage, King whispered Sheridan that he had some-
thing particular to communicate, and begged he
would step into the second green-room. Accord-
ingly, Sheridan went, and there found a table, with
pens, ink, and paper, a good fire, an armed chair at
the table, and two bottles of claret,' with a dish of an-
chovy sandwiches. The moment he got into the
room, King stepped out, and locked the door;
immediately after which, Linley and Ford came
up and told the author that, until he had written the
scene, he would be kept where he was.
Sheridan took this decided measure in good part ;
he ate the anchovies, finished the claret, wrote the
scene, and laughed heartily at the ingenuity of the
contrivance.
This anecdote I had from King himself. An-
other instance of his readiness and rapidity, when he
chose to exert himself, occurred at the time when
his pantomime of " Robinson Crusoe 1 ' was in rehear-
sal. He happened to call in at the theatre one day,
and found them in the greatest confusion, not
knowing what to introduce to give time for the set-
ting of a scene ; it was suggested to Mr. Sheridan
that a song would afford sufficient opportunity to the
carpenters for their preparation ; accordingly, he
sat down at the prompter's table, on the stage, and
310 REMINISCENCES OF
wrote on the back of a playbill the beautiful ballad
of" The Midnight Watch," which was set to music
by his father-in-law, Mr. Linley, in a style which
has established it as one of the most beautiful speci-
mens of pure English melody.
An observation Mr. Sheridan once made to me
about Congreve's plays, I venture to repeat, it has
so much genuine wit about it : he complained to me
that " Love for Love" had been so^ much altered
and modified for the more delicate ears of modern
audiences that it was quite spoiled. " His plays/
said the wit, " are, I own, somewhat licentious, but
it is barbarous to mangle them ; they are like horses,
when you deprive them of their vice, they lose their
vigour."
It is of course known, that Mr. Burke, in the
early part of his life, enlisted under the banners of
Opposition, and was a constant frequenter of the
house of a baker of the name of Tarcome, where
the aspirants for fame, on that side of the question,
used to meet, and debate certain proposed questions ;
the baker himself was eventually constituted per-
petual president of the well-known Robin Hood so-
ciety ; such was the estimation in which he was held
by the disciples of Whiggery.
Upon a memorable occasion, Mr. Burke, in the
House of Commons, exclaimed, " I quit the camp,"
and suddenly crossed the House ; and having seated
MICHAEL JCELLY. 311
himself on the ministerial benches, shortly after rose,
and made a most brilliant speech in opposition to his
ci-devant friends and adherents.
Sheridan was a good deal nettled at what he con-
sidered a needless defection, and replied with some-
thing like asperity to Mr. Burke's attack, and con-
cluded his speech with nearly these words : " The
Honourable Gentleman, to quote his own expression,
has 'quitted the camp;' he will recollect that he
quitted it as a deserter, and I sincerely hope he will
never attempt to return as a spy : but I, for one,
cannot sympathise in the astonishment with which
an act of apostacy so flagrant has electrified the
House ; for neither I, nor the Honourable Gentle-
man, have forgotten whence he obtained the weapons
which he now uses against us : so far from being
at all astonished at the Honourable Gentleman's
tergiversation, I consider it not only characteristic
but consistent, that he who in the outset of life
made so extraordinary a blunder as to go to a baker's
for eloquence, should finish such a career by com-
ing to the House of Commons to get bread."
One of Mr. Sheridan's favourite amusements, in
his hours of recreation, was that of making blunders
for me, and relating them to my friends, vouching
for the truth of them with the most perfect gravity.
One I remember was, that one night, when Drury
Lane Theatre was crowded to excess in every part,
1
312 REMINISCENCES OF
I was peeping through the hole in the stage cur-
tain, and John Kemble, who was standing on the
stage near me, asked me how the house looked, and
that I replied, " By J s, you can't stick a pin's
head in any part of it it is literally chuck full : but
how much fuller will it be to-morrow night, when
the King comes !"
Another of Mr. Sheridan's jests against me was,
that one day, having walked with him to Kemble^s
house, in great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, wher*
the streets were very dirty, and having gone up the
steps while Mr. Sheridan was scraping the dirt off
his shoes, I asked him to scrape for me while I was
knocking at the door.
Of all our poets, Dryden was Mr. Sheridan's
favourite ; many a time and oft, when sitting over
our wine, have I heard him quote at great length
from him. It -was truly a treat to hear him recite
poetry ; he had a powerful voice, and nothing, when
animated, could surpass the brilliancy of his coun-
tenance, and the fire of his eye.
On the 15th July, 1797, at the Haymarket Thea-
tre, George Colman's excellent comedy of " The
Heir at Law" was produced. Mr. Sheridan, the
same year, was passing the autumn in the Isle of
Wight, enjoying, as he used to say, one of his great-
est delights, sailing backwards and forwards from
Cowes to Southampton; and when he returned to
3
MICHAEL KELLY. 313
town, he told me that he had seen " The Heir at
Law" acted there. He said the play was not well
performed, but he was greatly amused with it, and
thought it an excellent comedy, and wished Colman
could be prevailed upon to write just such another
for Drury Lane. Many years after, I went with
him, one evening, to Covent Garden (after having
dined together at the Piazza Coffee-house), and saw
Kenny's admirable farce of " Raising the Wind"
performed. No schoolboy at home for the holidays
could have laughed more heartily than he did;
he was quite delighted with the character of Jeremy
Diddler, and with the acting of Lewis and Emery.
At one time, when hard pressed to pay the Opera
Orchestra, who were greatly in arrear, and had
resolved not to perform unless their debt was liqui-
dated, threatening to make an application to the
Lord Chamberlain; Mr. Sheridan was roused, to
make an effort to raise five hundred pounds, which
was the immediate sum required. He found a per-
son ready to make an advance for three months,
with a proviso, that Stephen Storace and myself who
then managed the Opera, should give our joint
security for the repayment. Being both of us eager
that the concern should not stop, we did so, and he
promised faithfully to provide for it. The very day
the bill became due, Storace was with me, in the
morning; we were both in inodo penseroso, won-
VOL. II. P
314 REMINISCENCES OF
dering how we could contrive to get it renewed;
when, to our great surprise, Mr. Sheridan entered,
laughing, with our acceptance dangling between his
fingers, the sight of which changed our modo pense-
roso to an allegro vivace ; he put our security into
my hands, at which my heart did verily rejoice, and
with all sincerity I made use of the quotation,
" For this relief, much thanks."
I mention this to shew, however general the im-
pression of Mr. Sheridan's want of punctuality in
money matters may be, that there is no rule without
an exception.
The last time I saw Mr. Sheridan, was in the
room in Drury Lane, formerly the treasury of the
old theatre, where a man of the name of Farebro-
ther, an old servant of his, was allowed, by the
Drury Lane Committee, to reside. He was sitting
alone, reading, with a muffin and a cup of coffee
before him. On my entering the room, he told me
that he had been reading Davies 1 " Life of Garrick,"
which, said he, " if you have not read, do read,
and advise every actor, from me, to do the same, for
it is well worth their attention.*"
I remained with him till four o'clock in the morn-
ing, tete-a-tete. I never saw him more pleasant or
communicative. He dwelt particularly on his fa-
MICHAEL KELLY. 315
ther's acting the part of King John, and " without
partiality," he said, " his scene with Hubert was a
master-piece of the art; and no actor could ever
reach its excellence."" I had been told by Jefferson,
the proprietor of the Plymouth Theatre, who had
often seen old Mr. Sheridan act King John, in Dub-
lin, that nothing could surpass it.
Mr. Sheridan also spoke of his father's Cato, as a
masterly performance, as well as his Brutus, in
" Julius Caesar."" The Cato of the elder Sheridan
was always very popular with the Dublin audience*
Mr. Hitchcock, who wrote the history of the " Irish
Stage," remembered him perfectly in the character.
I have often heard him say that his declamation was
fine and impressive ; he pronounced " Cato" with
a broad a, as, indeed, all the Irish do. John Kem-
ble always pronounced it c Cato ;' and when he
acted the part in Dublin, the play was announced
from the stage by an old actor of the Sheridan school,
who, despising the innovation of Kemble, gave it
out thus : " Ladies and Gentlemen, to-morrow
evening will be performed the tragedy of ' Cato,'
the part of Cato by Mr. Kemble." The manner in
which he pronounced the same name in two different
ways, produced great laughter in the audience, who
quite understood the sarcasm. When I related this
anecdote to Mr. Sheridan, he seemed to enjoy the
pertinacity of the Irish actor.
316 REMINISCENCES OF
One day, Mr. Sheridan laughingly said to me,
" It must be allowed, Kelly, that our coutrymen
always shew more or less of the potatoe in their
brain. Yesterday, at about four o'clock in the
morning, I came out of Brookes's, where I had staid
the very last ; and, as I was stepping into the car-
riage, I saw some half-dozen Irish chairmen, loitering
at the door, shivering with cold, waiting for a fare.
It was a bitter morning, and I said to one of the
poor devils, ' Why do you remain here, my good
fellow? 1
" ( Please your honour,' replied one of them,
c we are waiting to take somebody home.'
" ' You may save yourselves the trouble then, 1
said I ; c for I have just come out of the house, and
there is nobody left in it.'
" * Please your honour, we know there is nobody
in it, but who knows how many may come out.' "
" It was too cold," said Sheridan, " to argue with
them, so I got into my coach, and left them."
It would be the height of arrogance and indiscre-
tion in me to descant on, or eulogise the public cha-
racter of Mr. Sheridan ; but I trust that his political
life will be handed down to posterity, by some able
pen, uninfluenced by favour or enmity ; for, take
him as a statesman, an orator, a dramatist, and a
poet united, I fear we shall scarcely ever see his
like again. His good qualities were many; and,
MICHAEL KELLY. 317
after all, the great bane of his life was procrastina-
tion ; had it not been for that, what could he not
have achieved! To me, his memory will be ever
dear, and ought to be so to all who admire great
and splendid talents. Yet he had many enemies ;
some of whom, to my knowledge, his former bounty
fed. But, alas ! to use the language of our great
bard,
" The etil that men do, lives after them ;
The gnod, is often interred with their bones."
Much good remains upon authentic record, rela-
tive to Mr. Sheridan, which even his greatest ene-
mies could never deny. Some of the stories which
exist against him, however, have a vast deal of
humour in them ; and one which has often been
told, I think worth inserting, because, having been
an eye-witness of the circumstance, I am enabled
to shew the very " head and front of his offending."
We were one day in earnest conversation, close to
the gate of the path which was then open to the
public, leading across the church-yard of St. Paul's,
Covent Garden, from King Street to Henrietta
Street, when Mr. Holloway, who was a creditor of
Sheridan's to a considerable amount, came up to us
on horseback, and accosted Sheridan in a tone of
something more like anger than sorrow, and com-
plained that he never could get admittance when he
318 REMINISCENCES OF
called, vowing vengeance against the infernal Swiss
Monsieur Francois, if he did not let him in the next
time he went to Hertford Street.
Holloway was really in a passion. Sheridan
knew that he was vain of his judgment in horse-
flesh ; and without taking any notice of the violence
of his manner, burst into an exclamation upon the
beauty of the horse which he rode ; he struck the
right chord.
" Why," said Holloway, " I think I may say,
there never was a prettier creature than this. You
were speaking to me, when I last saw you, about a
horse for Mrs. Sheridan ; now this would be a trea-
sure for a lady."
" Does he canter well ?" said Sheridan.
" Beautifully," replied Holloway.
" If that's the case, Holloway," said Sheridan,
" I really should not mind stretching a point for
him. Will you have the kindness to let me see his
paces ?"
" To be sure," said the lawyer; and putting
himself into a graceful attitude, he threw his nag
into a canter along the market.
The moment his back was turned, Sheridan wished
me good morning, and went off through the
church-yard, where no horse could follow, into
Bedford Street, laughing immoderately, as indeed
clid several standers-by. The only person not
MICHAEL KELLY. 319
entertained by this practical joke was Mr. Hollo way
himself.
Another story of him I shall give, because it is
very little known, if known at all. Mr. Harris, the
late proprietor of Covent Garden, who had a great
regard for Sheridan, had at different times frequent
occasions to meet him on business, and made appoint-
ment after appointment with him, not one of which
Sheridan ever kept. At length Mr. Harris, wearied
out, begged his friend Mr. Palmer, of Bath, to see
Mr. Sheridan, and tell him that unless he kept the
next appointment made for their meeting, all ac-
quaintance between them must end for ever.
Sheridan expressed great sorrow for what had been
in fact inevitable, and fixed one o'clock the next day
to call upon Mr. Harris at the theatre. At about
three he actually made his appearance in Hart
Street, where he met Mr. Tregent, the celebrated
French watchmaker, who was extremely theatrical,
and had been the intimate friend of Garrick.
Sheridan told him, that he was on his way to call
upon Harris.
" I have just left him," said Tregent, " in a vio-
lent passion, having waited for you ever since one
o'clock."
" What have yo u been doing at the theatre ?" said
Sheridan.
" Why," replied Tregent, " Harris is going to
320 REMINISCENCES OF
make Bate Dudley a present of a gold watch, and
I have taken him half a dozen, in order that he
may choose one for that purpose."
" Indeed," said Sheridan.
They wished each other good day, and parted.
Mr. Sheridan proceeded to Mr. Harris's room,
and when he addressed him, it was pretty evident
that his want of punctuality had produced the effect
which Mr. Tregent described.
" Well, Sir," said Mr. Harris ; " I have waited
at least two hours for you again ; I had almost
given you up, and if "
" Stop, my dear Harris," said Sheridan, inter-
rupting him ; " I assure you these things occur
more from my misfortunes than my faults ; I de-
clare I thought it was but one o'clock, for it so hap-
pens that I have no watch, and to tell you the truth,
am too poor to buy one ; but when the day comes
that I can, you will see I shall be as punctual as any
other man."
" Well, then," said the unsuspecting Harris ;
" if that be all, you shall not long want a watch ; for
here (opening his drawer) are half a dozen of
Tregent's best ; choose any one you like, and do
me the favour of accepting it."
Sheridan affected the greatest surprise at the ap-
pearance of the watches; but did as he was bid, and
Selected certainly not the worst for the cadeau*
MICHAEL KELLY.
A punster, in return for Sheridan's hatred of
puns, would certainly have made a joke of his affec-
tion for watches, because they go tick ; for myself, I
have too much respect for Mr. Sheridan's memory,
to give way to such a propensity.
Mr. Sheridan was extremely attached to Mr*
Richardson ; and when Mrs. Sheridan was at Bog-
nor, he used to take Richardson down with him on
visits to her. One of these visits Sheridan once de-
scribed to me with infinite humour ; and although I
fear it is impossible to impart literally, the spirit
which he practically infused into it, when relating
it, I give it as I remember it.
Richardson had set his mind upon going down to
Bognor with Mr. Sheridan on one particular occa-
sion, because it happened that Lord Thurlow, with
whom he was on terms of intimacy, was staying
there. " So," said Richardson, " nothing can be
more delightful, what with my favourite diversion
of sailing my enjoyment of walking on the sands
the pleasure of arguing with Lord Thurlow, and tak-
ing my snuff by the sea-side, I shall be in my glory."
" Well," said Mr. Sheridan ; " down he went,
full of anticipated joys. The first day, in stepping
into the boat to go sailing, he tumbled down, and
sprained his ancle, and was obliged to be carried
into his lodgings, which had no view of the sea:
the following morning he sent for a barber to shave
him, but there being no professional shaver nearer
REMINISCENCES OF
than Chichester, he was forced to put up with a
fisherman, who volunteered to officiate, and cut him
severely just under his nose, which entirely prevented
his taking snuff; and the same day at breakfast,
eating prawns too hastily, he swallowed the head of
one, horns and all, which stuck in his throat, and
produced such pain and inflammation, that his me-
dical advisers would not allow him to speak for
three days. So, thus," said Mr. Sheridan, " ended,
in four and twenty hours his walking his sailing
his snuff-taking and his arguments."
Mr. Sheridan was the author of the following
dramatic pieces :
" The Rivals," at Covent Garden, 1775.
" Saint Patrick's Day," a farce, 1775 ; this was
written in two days, for the benefit of the facetious
Larry Clinch, a brother actor, and intimate friend
of his father, and the original Sir Lucius O'Trigger.
" The Duenna," at Covent Garden, which ran
seventy nights without intermission.
The " Trip to Scarborough," altered from Sir
John Vanbrugh ; Drury Lane, 1777.
The " School for Scandal,'' Drury Lane, 1777.
" The Camp," musical entertainment, in two
acts, Drury Lane, 1778.
" The Critic," of which he told me, that he valued
the first act more than any thing he ever wrote.
u Pizarro" is his only other production, except
the pantomime of " Robinson Crusoe." He began
MICHAEL KELLY. 323
aa opera, called the " Foresters," and had written
an act or two of a comedy, which he never finished.
It was one of Doctor Johnson's sayings, that if a
man do not make new acquaintances as he advances
in life, he will soon find himself alone in the world.
The truth of the observation I can vouch for by
experience. I have found ah 1 the friends of my
early life drop round me ; and honourable and
valued as have been many of them, the loss of no
one certainly was more deplored by me, than that of
Mr. Sheridan. If I have said much of him, it was
because I loved and respected him ; and the reader,
to whom any illustrations of such a man's character
must I flatter myself be acceptable, will excuse me.
In the year 1818, I composed the music to a
piece called The Bride of Abydos;" and in
1820, to another called " Abudah ;" and my last
production was a musical entertainment, called the
'' Lady and the Devil, 11 for Drury Lane. Between
the years 1797 and 1821, I produced, at different
theatres, sixty-two pieces, by far the greatest num-
ber produced by any one English composer, Bishop
excepted. Most of them, I have the satisfaction to
say, have been received by the public with favour ;
and I have thought it might not be disagreeable to
my friends to see a list of them, for which reason I
have subjoined the titles, dates, the names of their
authors, and the theatres where they were per-
formed.
39A
HEMIXISCKXC.ES OF
General Conway .
Prince Hoare
Cumberland .
Walsh Porter
M. G. Lewis .
Deaf and Dumb
False Appearances .
Fashionable Friends
A Friend in Need .
Last of the Family .
Chimney Corner . ,
Castle Spectre . . .
Blue Beard G. Colman . .
Outlaws Franklin . . .
Captive of Spielberg . Prince Hoare
Aurelia and Miranda . Boaden ....
Feudal Times G. Colman . .
Pizarro Sheridan . . .
Of Age To-morrow. . Dibdiu ....
De Montfort Miss Baillie .
Indians Fenwick . . .
Translated from the
French, by Hoi-
croft, and adapt,
ed to the English
stage by Mr.
Kemble ....
Adehnorn M. G. Lewis . . .
Gipsey Prince . . . . T. Moore
Urania Hon. W. Spencer,
Algonah Cobb
House to be Sold . . . Cobb
Hero of the North .
Marriage Promise .
Love laughs at Lock
smiths
Cinderella Mr. James
Counterfeit Franklin .
Hunter of the Alps. . Diiuond .
Gay Deceivers . . . . G. Colman
Blind Bargain .... Reynolds .
The Land we live in . Holt . . .
Honey Moon Tobin . . .
Drury Lane
Ibid .
Ibid .
Ibid . ,
Ibid .
Ibid .
Ibid .
Ibid .
Ibid . ,
Ibid .
Ibid . ,
Ibid . ,
Ibid
Ibid .
Ibid ,
178?
1789
9th Feb. 1797
8th May, 1797
7th Oct. 1797
1 1th Dec. 1797
10th Jan. 1798
16th Oct. 1798
Oct. 1798
29th Dec. 1798
19th Jan. 1799
24th May, 1799
1st Feb. 1800
29th April, 1800
6th Oct. 1800
Ibid . . 24th Feb. 1801
Dimond .
Allingham
. G. Colman
Drury Lane .
Haymarket .
Drury Lane .
Ibid . .
Ibid . .
Ibid . .
Ibid ,
4th May, 1801
24th July, 1801
22d Jan. 1802
30th April, 1802
17th Nov. 1802
19th Feb. 180$
26th April, 1803
Haymarket . 25th July, 1803
Drury Lane .
Ibid . .
Haymarket .
Ibid .. .
Cov. Garden,
Drury Lane .
Ibid
8th Jan. 1804
13th Mar. 1804
3rd July, 1804
22nd Aug. 1804
24th Oct. 1804
29th Dec. 1804
31st Jan. 1805
MICHAEL KELLY.
325
Prior Claim Pye and Arnold
Youth, Love, & Folly, Dimond ....
We Fry by Night .
Forty Thieves . .
Adrian and Orilla
Young Htissar . .
Town and Country
Wood Daemon . .
House of Morville
Adelgitha M. G. Lewis
Time's a Tell Tale . . H. Siddons .
Jew of Mogadore . . Cumberland
Africans G. Cohnan .
Venoni M. G. Lewis
Drury Lane .
Ibid . .
G. Colman .... Cov. Garden,
Ward Drury Lane .
Dimond Cov. Garden,
Dimond Drury Lane .
Morton Cov. Garden,
M. G. Lewis . . . Drury Lane .
Lake Ibid . .
Ibid . .
Ibid . .
Ibid . .
Haymarket .
Drury Lane .
29th Oct. 1805
23rd May, 1805
28th Jan. 1806
8th April, 1806
15th Nov. 1806
12th Mar. 1807
10th Mar. 1807
1st April, 1807
23rd April, 1807
30th April, 1807
27th Oct. 1807
3rd May, 1808
29th July, 1808
1st Dec. 1808
Foundling of the Fo- ? Dimond Haymarket . 9th July, 1809
rest 3
Jubilee ........ Arnold Lyceum . . . 25th Oct. 1809
GustavusVasa .... Dimond Cov. Garden, 26th Nov. 1810
Ballet Deshayes Opera House, 1810
Peasant Boy Dimond Lyceum . . . 31st Jan. 1811
Royal Oak Dimond Haymarket . 10th June, 1811
One o'Clock M. G. Lewis ... 1st Aug. 1811
Absent Apothecary . Horace .Smith .. Drury Lane . loth Feb. 1813
Russians T. Sheridan .... Ibid . . 13th May, 1813
Polly ; or, the Sequel ? Ibid lfith Jm ^ lglR
to Beggar's Opera \
Illusion Arnold Ibid . . 25th Nov. 1813
Pantomime Dibdin Ibid . . 26th Dec. 1813
Remorse Coleridge .... Ibid . . 23rd Jan. 1814
Unknown Guest . . . Arnold .' Ibid . . 29th Mar. 1815
FallofTaranto. . . . Dimond Cov. Garden, 1817
Bride of Abydos . . . Dimond Drnry Lane . 5th Feb. 1818
Abudah Planche Ibid . . 13th April, 1819
Lady and the Devil . Dimond Ibid . . 3rd May, 1820
With a numerous list of Italian, English, and French single Songs,
Duets, and Trios.
326 REMINISCENCES OF
I have been, with little intermission, stage-mana-
ger of the King's Theatre, in the Haymarket,
nearly thirty years ; at which establishment also, I
have performed as principal tenor singer, both in
the serious and comic operas. The regular emolu-
ment for my labours, (and be it known to all, that
to manage an Italian Opera is a most laborious task)
has been, the use of the house, and the performers
belonging to it, for my annual benefit ; defraying
myself, however, every other expense belonging to
the performance of the night. Through all the
changes of different proprietorships and lessees,
this privilege has been invariably granted me, as a
reward for long service.
When I withdrew from Drury Lane Theatre,
as a performer, I commuted a very large claim
upon the property, for a small annuity. This
agreement has been sanctioned, and punctually
fulfilled, by all the noblemen and gentlemen who
have subsequently formed the various committees
of management ; and, since the termination of their
authority, has been discharged with equal honour
and scrupulousness of attention, by Mr. Elliston,
the present lessee ; from whom I have uniformly
experienced the most friendly, nay, even brotherly
kindness.
There was also a privilege granted me, that upon
my benefit at the Opera House, any performers
MICHAEL KELLY. 327
attached to the Drury Lane establishment, and not
employed there upon the same night, should be
available assistants in whatever English drama I
might select for representation. It is a proud gra-
tification to me, to add, that in my brothers and
sisters of the sock and buskin, I have always
found the most cheerful alacrity upon this occasion.
Neither must I omit to observe, that upon many
emergencies, the proprietors of the Theatre Royal
Covent Garden, (although upon that establish-
ment I have no claim whatever,) have, in the
most liberal manner, spontaneously obliged me with
any assistance within their power to furnish.
The gout has, of late years, almost deprived
me of loco-motion. Both my parents were suf-
ferers from the same disorder, in me, there-
fore, it is constitutional, and not my age's
penance for my youth's excess ; for in that
season, I may say, with Old Adam, in " As you
Like it," I never did apply hot and rebellious
liquors to my blood. 'Tis an ancient adage,
that the gout grants to its possessor a long lease
of life if it be so, I am sure the lease is held at
a rack-rent. Upon the whole, however, although
noil sum qualis cram, I may yet say, that my
general health is good, and my spirits never
better shall I then complain of my lot ? Forbid
328 REMINISCENCES OF
it, Heaven ! In spite of all the inflictions of my
hereditary scourge, I bow my head submissively,
and acknowledge, with an humble, yet cheerful
thankfulness, that the hand of Providence hath
touched me tenderly.
One superior solace, under my worst visitations,
I have indeed possessed, which yet remains untold.
With some, perhaps, an avowal of it may draw
upon me an imputation of pride or vanity ; but, if
I know myself, gratitude is paramount with me to
either of those passions; and all liberal spirits, I
trust, will excuse the apparent boast. Let me
therefore declare, without equivocation or disguise,
that the chief and dearest comfort remaining to me
in this life, is the proud consciousness, that I am ho-
noured by the patronage of my beloved Monarch.
Even from my earliest arrival in these realms,
where George the Fourth now reigns in peace
and glory, it was my enviable fortune 'to be
distinguished by the Royal Favour ; and the
humble individual, who, in 1787, was noticed
by the Prince of Wales, is still remembered in
1825 by THE KING !
I cannot here refrain from mentioning a
circumstance which occurred to me on the 1st
of January, 1822 ; and I sincerely trust there
will not appear any impropriety in my doing so ?
MICHAEL KELLY. 329
since it records a trait of gracious goodness and
consideration in His Majesty, which, although
but one of hundreds, is but little known, and
richly deserves to be universally so.
On that evening, the King gave a splendid
party at the Pavilion ; and His Majesty was
graciously pleased to command my attendance to
hear a concert performed by his own fine band.
His Majesty did me the honour to seat himself
beside me, and ask me how I liked the music which
I had that day heard in the chapel, amongst which,
to my surprise, had been introduced the Chacoone
of Jomelli, performed in the "Castle Spectre,""
but which since has been called the Sanctus of
Jomelli, and is now used in all the cathedrals
and churches in England and the Continent, under
that title. His Majesty was all kindness and con-
descension in his manner towards me; but his
kindness and condescension did not stop there.
I had taken with me to Brighton that year a
god-daughter of mine, Julia Walters, whom I
have adopted, and whose mother has been, for
years, my housekeeper and watchful attendant
during my many severe illnesses. This little girl,
at five years old, performed the part of the Child^
in the opera of " L' Agnese," under the name of
Signora Julia. Ambrogetti was so struck with my
OHO
REMINISCENCES OF
little prottgte, that he begged I would let her play
the character, which she did with grace and intel-
ligence far beyond her years. This child asked me
to procure her a sight of the King, and fixed upon
the evening in question to press her request, when
she might behold him in the midst of his Court,
surrounded by all that was brilliant in the land,
and in a palace whose splendour, when illuminated,
rivalled the magnificence described in the " Arabian
Nights."
I told my worthy friend Cramer, the excellent
master and leader of His Majesty's private band,
the earnest desire of little Julia, and prevailed upon
him to admit her behind the organ, with a strict
injunction not to let herself be seen ; but female
curiosity, even in one so young, prevailed ; and after
the first act of the concert, when the performers
retired to take some refreshment, Signora Julia
crept from her hiding-place behind the organ, and
seated herself between the kettle drums. The King
was sitting on a sofa, between the Princess Ester-
hazy and the Countess Lieven; and though the
orchestra was at a distance, His Majesty's quick
eye in a moment caught a glimpse of the little
intruder.
" Who is that beautiful little child ?" said the
King ; " Who brought her here ?" and immedi-
MICHAEL KELLY. 331
ately walked to poor Julia, and asked her who
she was.
" I belong to KC said Julia.
4 * And who the deuce is K?" said His Majesty.
I was seated quite at the farther end of the
room, conversing with *Sir William Keppell ; and
the moment I saw what was going on, I requested
Sir William to go to the King, and say that the
child belonged to me, which he with great good-
nature did.
His Majesty kissed poor little Julia ; and taking
her into his arms, threw her over his shoulder, and
carried her across the room to me, and placed her in
a chair by my side, saying, with the greatest con-
descension, " Why did you leave the child in the
cold ? Why not bring her into the room ? If she
be fond of music, bring her here whenever you
like/"*
This act of kindness, consideration, and good-
ness, was duly appreciated by all who witnessed
it, and by me will be ever remembered with the
most respectful gratitude. On the following even-
ing, when I again had the honour of a command to
the palace, His Majesty was pleased to inquire after
my pretty little girl.
My friend, Prince Hoare, who was at Brighton
at the time, wrote the following lines on the
incident :
REMINISCENCES OF
ON JULIA, PEEPING
In the music room of the Pavilion, at Brighton, on the 1st January,
1822, and discovered in the fact by His MOST GRACIOUS
MAJESTY GEORGE THE FOURTH ; who, with his never-failing
kindness of heart, and condescension, seized the little culprit in his
arms, kissed and caressed hei', and bore hei' in triumph, before the
brilliant assembly, to her nearest and dearest friend, MICHAEL
KELLY, then present.
Behind the lofty organ's screen,
One gala eve, sly Julia lay,
Intent to peep, at whiles, unseen,
And all the glorious pomp survey.
O, little didst thou dream that eye
Which wakes to guard Britannia's crown,
Would there thy tiny form espy,
And give thee, Julia, to renown.
For many seasons past, upon my annual night,
I have been regularly honoured with a muni-
ficent donation from my Sovereign ; but, valu-
able to me as is that bounty in itself, the gift
has scarcely been so gratifying to the feelings of
his dutiful servant, as the manner of presenting' it.
A delicacy, which anticipated wishes
A generosity, which exceeded hopes.
Were I to indulge my feelings, I should be
MICHAEL KELLY. 333
diffuse upon this subject ; but I check myself,
lest I should offend in a quarter where dis-
pleasure would afflict me most.
I therefore shall merely venture to add, that
whenever my malady casts me upon a bed of suf-
fering, I do not forget, that the most august hand
in the Empire has condescended to place round
it additional comforts; and that no sooner does
my relenting star restore me to society, than my
benefactor's name blesses the first glass I carry
to my lips ; and I say and sing, with heart and
voice, devoutly and gratefully,
GOD SAVE THE KING !"
! >w ! :
i
' > '3lh
IHT
APPENDIX.
HAVING been for so many years connected with
the Opera House, and having had the most au-
thentic information upon all matters connected with
it, it appears to me that the following narrative may
be acceptable to such of my readers as are inte-
rested in the fate of that establishment.
THE KING'S THEATRE;
OR,
THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA HOUSE,
AT the beginning of the last century, the company of
players, with the celebrated Betterton at their head,
having refitted the Tennis Court in Lincoln's Inn Fields,
performed there with considerable success for a few
seasons ; but finding the house too small, and that the
Drury Lane company were more attractive than them-
selves, by possessing a more convenient and spacious
theatre, and backed by the Kit-Cat Club, joined in a
proposition made them by Sir John Vanbrugh, to build
for their use a stately theatre in the Hay market ; which,
as being nearer the court than the neighbourhood of
Drury Lane, might be more likely to succeed than any
other part of the metropolis. To commence the build-
336 APPENDIX.
ing of this theatre, Sir John began with raising a sub-
scription of thirty thousand pounds from three hundred
persons of quality, at one hundred pounds each ; in
consideration whereof every subscriber, for his own life,
was to be admitted to whatever entertainments should
be publicly performed there, without further payment for
his entrance. The plan succeeded to Sir John's wish,
the money was raised, and the building begun, under
Sir John's inspection, who was himself the sole architect,
as well as first projector. Of this Theatre Colley
Gibber informs us, he saw the first stone laid in 1704 ;
" on which was inscribed the Little Whig, in honour to
a lady of extraordinary beauty, then the celebrated
toast, and pride of that party." A satirical writer says,
" The Kit-Cat Club is now grown famous and notorious
all over the kingdom, and they have built a temple for
their Dagon the new play-house in the Haymarket.
The foundation was laid with great solemnity by a
noble babe of grace* ; and over or under the foundation
* The " Babe of Grace," or " Little Whig," was the beautiful
Lady Sunderland, second daughter of the Duke of Marlborough.
There are some lines,
On the Lady SunderlancTs laying the first Stone of Her Majesty's
Theatre, in the Haymarket.
What pompous scenes and lofty columns rise,
That strike with artful strokes our wond'ring eyes,
And seize the raptured soul with sweet surprise :
O ! what a stately dome w' admiring view,
Whose chief foundation '& owing still to you, &c.
I
APPENDIX. 337
stone is a plate of silver, on which is graven KIT CAT
on the one side, and LITTLE WHIG on the other. This
is in futuram rci tnemoriam, that after-ages may know
by what worthy hands, and for what good ends, this
stately fabric was erected. And there was such zeaf
shewed*, all purses open to carry on the wor;t, that it
was almost as soon finished as begun." In the year
1705, when this house was finished, Beiterton and his
co-partners dissolved their own agreement, and threw
themselves under the direction of Sir John Vanbrugh,
who had obtained a grant from Queen Anne, and Mr,
Congrevc, who had joined himself with Sir John in the
management ; the players thinking that two such emi-
nent authors might give a prosperous turn to their
condition ; that the plays it would now be their interest
to write for them would attract the whole town, and be
an advantage that no other company could hope for ;
and in the interim, till such plays could be written, the
grandeur of their house, as it was a spectacle, might
allure the public, by its novelty and striking appearance,
to /support them. In this golden dream they however
found themselves miserably deceived and disappointed ;
as, on the opening of this grand and superb structure, it
was immediately discovered that almost every quality
and convenience of a good theatre had been sacrificed
and neglected, to shew the spectator a vast triumphal
piece of architecture ; and that the best play was less
The Rehearsal of Observator, No. 41. May 512, 1705.
VOL. II. ft
338 APPENDIX.
capable of delighting the auditor here, than it would be
in the plain and unadorned house they had just come
from ; for, what with their vast columns, their gilded
cornices, and immoderately high roof, scarce one word
in ten could be distinctly heard. The extraordinary
and superfluous space occasioned such an undulation
from the voice of every actor, that generally what they
said sounded like the gabbling of so many people in
the lofty aisles of a cathedral. The tone of a trumpet,
or the swell of a musical voice, might be sweetened by
it ; but the articulate sounds of a speaking voice were
drowned by the hollow reverberations of one word upon
another. 'Tis true, the spectators were struck with
surprise and wonder at the magnificent appearance the
house displayed on every way they turned their eyes.
The ceiling over the orchestra was a semi-oval arch,
that sprung fifteen feet higher from above the cornice.
The ceiling over the pit, too, was still more raised ;
being one level line from the highest, back part of the
upper gallery, to the front of the stage. The front
boxes were a continued semicircle to the bare walls of
.the house on each side ; and the effect altogether was
truly surprising. In the course of two or three years, the
ceilings over both the orchestra and pit were lowered ;
and instead of the semi-oval arch, that over the or-
chestra was made flat, which greatly improved the
hearing. Not long before, the Italian Opera began first
to steal into England ; but in as rude a disguise, and
unlike itself, as possible, in a lame, hobbling translation
APPENDIX. 339
into our own language ; with false quantities, or metre
out of measure, to its original notes ; sung by our own
unskilful voices, with graces misapplied to almost every
sentiment, and with action lifeless and unmeaning
through every character. The first Italian performer
that made any distinguished figure in it, was Valtntini,
a true sensible singer at that time, but of a throat too
weak to sustain those melodious warblings for which
the fairer sex have since idolized his successors. To
strike in, therefore, with this prevailing novelty, Sir
John Vanbrugh and Mr. Congreve opened their new
Haymarket Theatre, on Easter Monday, April 9th,
1705, with Signer Giacomo Greber's Loves of Ergasto,
set to Italian music ; a prologue by Mrs. Bracegirdle,
written by Garth : and plays commenced by the Lin-
coln's Inn Fields' company under Betterton, who had
closed the latter theatre with the Virtuoso, and Acis
and Galatea, on March 31st. They acted every evening
till 29th June ; but their short career evidently wanted
attraction. On the 25th, 27th, and 29th June, Love
for Love was acted wholly by women. The company
returned to Lincoln's Inn Fields, and performed there
during July, and closed the season on the 14th of
August. The Triumph of Love was acted about five
nights, by foreigners, without success ; and plays were
then performed, the first new. piece being the Conquest
of Spain. The following Oct. re-opened by Vanbrugh
only, with a new comedy by him, called the Confede-
racy ; in the company were Betterton, Leigh, Booth,
340 APPENDIX.
Pinkethman, Dogget, Pack, Mrs. Porter, Mrs. Brace-
girdle, &c. They closed Aug. 23 with the London
Cuckolds. Several new plays produced.
1706. Betterton's company opened with the Spanish
Friar, Oct. 15th. The temporary popularity and
favouritism for this house is shewn by the circum-
stance, that at the Dorset Gardens Theatre the opening
for the season was announced, as '* By the deserted
company of Comedians of the Theatre Royal ; at the
Queen's Theatre in Dorset Gardens, on Thursday next,
the 24th of October, will be acted a comedy called the
Recruiting Officer : in which they pray there may be
singing by Mrs. Tofts, in English and Italian, and some
dancing, &c." And the prologue spoken by Mrs. Babb,
her first appearance there, commences,
Bless me ! an audience here ! I'm all surprise !
Boxes ! Pit ! ! Galleries ! ! ! I can't believe my eyes !
Sure I'm mistaken how strange a thing is this,
When all my thoughts were nothing but dismiss :
How could ye give one idle night away, }
And from Haymarket's dazzling fabric stray, >
Unless new faces bring ye to our play ? j
First view, then bid, and if we should deny, ~\
Then with a smile and scornful air you'll cry, \>
Away to t'other house, we know who'll there comply. J
The company from Dorset Garden Theatre com-
menced at Drury Lane the 30th November, with the
play of the Recruiting Officer, which was played same
night at this house Kite, by Mr. Pack ; while their
APPENDIX. 341
rivals announced in the bills, " Note. The true Serjeant
Kite is performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane*."
Whatever appearances were, the patronage of the
public was not very lucrative. As early in the follow-
ing year as the 14th January, there was acted Julius
Caesar by subscription ; " For the encouragement of
the comedians acting at the Haymarket, and to enable
them to keep the diversion of plays under a separate
interest from operas." To boxes and pit, only sub-
scribers admitted. First gallery 2s. ; the upper 1*.
This performance repeated 15th, and other subscription
nights followed. The name of Mrs. Bracegirdle does
not appear in the bills after Feb. 20th. Season closed
August 22nd, 1707. Opened October llth; closed
with the tragedy of Macbeth, for the benefit of Mr.
Wilks, 10th January, 1708 ; when the company at
the Queen's Theatre and Drury Lane united. Operas
were attempted, part in Italian, and part in English ;
400 tickets issued at 105. 6d. to pit and boxes, the
gallery 5s. upper gallery 2s. They commenced 14th
January, 1708, and plays acted twice a week : dancing
was sometimes added. M'Swiney was the manager.
Concluded 28th May. Operas recommenced twice a
week 14th December, when Nicolini made his first
appearance in England. He sung in Italian, the others
in English. The prices varied: boxes 15s. 10s. 6d.
The original cast of the characters was : Plume, Wilks ;
Brazen, Cibber; Kite, Estcourt; Melinda, Mrs. Rogers; and
Silvia, Mrs. Oldfield.
342 APPENDIX.
and 8s. ; pit os.; gallery 2s. 6d. ; upper gallery 1$. 6d.
Season ended 20th May. 1709. Eetterton's company
returned here, and opened with Othello, Sept. 15th;
and as an auxiliary attraction, Mr. Higgins, the posture-
man from Holland, exhibited between the acts*.
The season closed 13th June, 1710, with the Careless
Husband. Operas were performed twice a week,
under the proprietorship of Aaron Hill, who rented
the theatre at 600/. a year. Among the new produc-
tions was the opera of Thomyris, conducted by the
newly-arrived Swiss Count (John James Heidegger),
who by that production alone was " a gainer of five
* " Advertisement. The surprising Mr. Higgins, posture-
master, that lately performed in the Queen's Theatre Royal
in the Haymarket, now performs at the Rummer, over against
Bow-lane-end in Cheapside, the same with several other won-
derful postures, that he had not time to perform between the
acts j beginning exactly at six every evening during his short
stay in the city. Price eighteen-pence the first seats, and
twelve-pence the back seats." Bagford's Papers.
Another demi-advertisement exhibits a curious specimen of
the nuisance of the footmen in the gallery during the per-
formance. " Dropt, near the playhouse in the Hayraaiket, a
bundle of horse-whips, designed to belabour the footmen in the
upper gallery, who almost every night this winter have made
such an intolerable disturbance, that the players could not be
heard, and their masters were forced to hiss 'em into silence.
Whoever has taken up the said whips, is desired to leave 'em
with my Lord Rake's porter, several noblemen resolving to
exercise 'em on their backs, the next frosty morning." Femals
Tatler, 9th December, 1709.
APPENDIX. 343
hundred guineas." Almahide was the first regular
opera, "consisting of songs, both in Italian and English,
adapted to Italian airs ; the latter (says Sir J. Hawkins)
were sung by Dogget the comedian." In July and
August the summer company performed plays for a few
nights. It opened for the winter season, 4th October,
with the Recruiting Officer, under the management of
M c Swiney. Performers : Messieurs Wilks, Booth,
Gibber, Estcourt, Mills, Gibbs, Bullock, Pinkethman ;
Mesdames Oldfield, Porter, Rogers, and Bicknell.
This company, on the 18th November following,
removed to Drury Lane Theatre. The operas com-
menced November 22nd, with Hydaspes, under the
direction of A. Hill, and ended 2nd June, 1711, with
Rinaldo, set by Handel, and of superior merit " over
every representation of this nature (says Hawkins) that
till then had been exhibited in England*." The Italian
Opera, properly so called (says the same authority),
was established in the year 1710, when Rinaldo was
performed at the Haymarketf. Playhouses were not
then open on Wednesdays or Saturdays. The winter
season commenced 10th November, with Almahide, the
character of Almanzor by Mrs. Barbier. Hour of
performance six o'clock. The same manager assisted
by Heidegger. Boxes 8s. pit 5s. galleries 2s. 6d. and
Is. Gd. The season ended 25th June, 1712, with
* Hawkins* Hist, of Music, vol. v. p. 142.
t Hawkins' Hist, of Music, vol. v. p. 171,
844 APPENDIX.
Calypso and Telemachus. Recommenced 12th Novem-
ber, with the Triumphs of Love, and continued
Wednesdays and Saturdays through the season. On
the 22nd November was produced the Faithful Shepherd,
with music by Handel. The principal performers were
Signor Car. Valeriano Pellengrini (first appearance),
Signer Valentino Urbani, Signora Pilotti Schiavonetti,
Signora Margarita Dell' Epine, Mrs. Barbier, and Mr.
Leveridge ; who all sung in Italian. The scenes were
new, representing Arcadia ; but the habits were old.
It was a short opera, and on second representation the
boxes were raised to half a guinea. An opera called
Dorinda was next produced ; but neither that nor the
Faithful Shepherd, had sufficient attraction to obtain full
houses. On the 3rd January, 1713, was performed a
tragic opera, with heroic habits, four new scenes, and
other costly decorations, called Theseus, with music by
Handel. M c Swiney, the manager, having ineffectually
tried to obtain a subscription for six nights, gave out
tickets for two nights only ; laying the boxes and pit
into one ; and the house was very full at ach per-
formance After the second night M c Swiney absented
himself without paying the singers' salaries, and leaving
the habits and the scenes unpaid for. This circum-
stance created considerable confusion among the singers,
who finally resolved to go on with the opera on their
own account, dividing the gain amongst them, under
the superintendence of Monsieur John James Heidegger.
On 1 7th January, Theseus repeated at the usual prices;
APPENDIX. 345
and house much fuller than on preceding night. A
subscription for six nights, of ten guineas, entitling the
subscriber to three tickets for each night, the whole
number limited to 400 a night, was raised for a new
opera called Ernelinda*. It is probable, in this opera
first appeared La Signora Vittoria Albergotti, an admired
Romana. The first performance was on 26th February,
and to a crowded house during the subscription nights ;
the Due d'Aumont, the French Ambassador, being
present at each representation. On Wednesday, the
15th April, the opera of Theseus was obliged to be
deferred from the want of sufficient support, and per-
formed on the Saturday following, to only a very thin
house. The regular season closed 15th May, with
Theseus, for the benefit of Mr. Handel, as the composer.
The next season commenced, 9th Jan. 1714, with
Dorinda ; and on the 27th was produced a new opera
called Croesus, in which (we speak on the authority of a
contemporary manuscript) there first appeared on the
stage the celebrated Mrs. Anastasia Robinson, afterwards
* The opera of Ernelinda, performed during the season 1713,
has a dedication prefixed from " John James Heidegger," to
Richard, Viscount Lonsdale, Baron Lowther, imploring his pro-
tection " at a time when we labour under so many unhappy
circumstances." It was also hoped " there are many who will
concur with your Lordship's sentiments, and think themselves
concerned to promote so noble a diversion, a diversion which
most foreign states think it their interest to support. By these
means, [it is added] we may retrieve the reputation of our
affairs, and in a short time rival the stnge of Italy."
Q5
846 APPENDIX.
Countess of Peterborough. Boxes and pit half a guinea,
and house full. During Lent, the opera performed on a
Thursday, in consequence of Queen Anne usually having
a withdrawing-room and playing basset every Tuesday
evening. Performances concluded 23rd June with
Ernelinda, at the request of the Duchess of Shrewsbury,
lately arrived from Ireland. The following season
commenced with the opera of Arminius, and, as by
command, the performance to begin at five o'clock. It
was also advertised : " Whereas, by the frequent calling
for the songs over again, the operas have been too
tedious ; therefore the singers are forbid to sing any
song above once, and it is hoped nobody will call for
'em, or take it ill when not obeyed." Some new per-
formers had been obtained, who met with little encou-
ragement, and the presence of the Prince and Princess
of Wales not sufficient to fill the house. In December,
an auxiliary attraction was adopted, in introducing
dancing by Mrs. Santlow. On July 23, 1715, the opera
of Hydaspes (the King present,) terminated the season,
in consequence, it was said, of the Rebellion. The state
of public affairs is supposed to have had considerable
influence over public amusements, and the nights of the
opera were in consequence very irregular ; however, we
believe operas were performed early in December : and
on the 1st February, 1716, by command of the King,
Lucius Verus. The principal singer was Signor Nicolini
Grimaldi, returned from Italy. On the 16th February,
Amadis produced, in which Mrs. Robinson took a part ;
APPENDIX. 347
and season ended with same performance, on the 12th
July following. The next season commenced December
8th, with Cleartes, and dancing by Monsieur Salle and
Mademoiselle Salle, the two children first time on this
stage; and ended the 29th June, 1717*, with Titus
Manlius. Servants were then allowed to keep places in
the boxes. Several balls and masquerades given during
the winter of 171 7-1 Sf; and a concert for the benefit
* A strong effort was made this season at Lincoln's Inn Fields
Theatre to establish English operas. The opera of Camilla, by
M c Swiney, first performed at Drury Lane, 20th March, 1706,
was revived in January 1717, for that purpose, and acted twice
a week for seven times, to the most productive houses of that
season. On the 26th January it was dismissed, by reason of
Mrs. Barbier being sick ; but repeated occasionally afterwards.
Camilla was again revived 19th November, 1726, pit and boxes
at 5s. each, and the receipt at first night 163/. 3s. Gd. Other
lucrative nights same season, which contradicts Sir J. Hawkins,
who says, " it did not succeed." Thorny ris was not, as he
supposes, performed.
t The promptness of Mr. Heidegger in providing amusement
for the nobility and gentry is well known. The following is a
description of a subscription masquerade at the Opera House,
allowed to be more magnificent than has been known in Italy,
Venice, or any other countries.
" The room (says the writer) is exceedingly large, beautifully
adorned, and illuminated with 500 wax lights; on the sides are
divers beaufets, over which is written the several wines therein
contained, as Canary, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhenish, &c.
each most excellent in its kind ; of which all are at liberty to
drink what they please ; with large services of all sorts of
sweetmeats. There are also two sets of music, at due distance
348 APPENDIX-
of Mrs. Robinson, 15th March, 1718. This season m>
operas performed. 1719. Balls continued under the
direction of Heidegger. 1720. During the early months
of this year, French comedians, under Royal patronage,
performed about nine nights ; their last performance the
29th March, Prices of admission : Stage 7*. 6d. boxes
from each other, performed by very good hands. By the vast
variety of dresses (many of them very rich) you would fancy it a
congress of the principal persons of all nations in the world, as
Turks, Italians, Indians, Polanders, Spaniards, Venetians, &c.
There is an absolute freedom of speech, without the least
offence given thereby ; while all appear better bred than to offer
at any thing profane, rude, or immodest, but wit incessantly
flashes about in repartees, honour, and good humour, and all
kinds of pleasantry. There was also the groom porter's office,
where all play that please ; while heaps of guineas pass about,
with so little concern in the losers, that they are not to be
distinguished from the winners. Nor does it add a little to the
beauty of the entertainment, to see the generality of the mas-
queraders behave themselves agreeable to their several habits.
The number, when I was there on Tuesday, last week, was
computed at 700, with some files of musquetiers at hand, for the
preventing any disturbance which might happen by quarrels, &c.
so frequent in. Venice, Italy, and other countries, on such
entertainments. At eleven o'clock a person gives notice that
supper is ready, when the company pass into another large room,
where a noble cold entertainment is prepared, suitable to all the
rest ; the whole diversion continuing from nine .o'clock till seven
next morning. In short, the whole ball was sufficiently illus-
trious, in every article of it, for the greatest prince to give on the
most extraordinary occasion." Mist's Weekly Journal^ Feb. 15 r
1718*
APPENDIX.
55. pit 3*. gal. 2s. Operas commenced on the 5th April ;
and the French company recommenced on the 29th.
Both companies played respectively two nights a week,
the French company closing the 1 7th, and the opera the
22nd June, 1720. On the 26th May, to the opera of
Numitor, it was announced, "To be admitted on the
stage, one guinea." In this year 5,000/. was subscribed
by the nobility, (according to Sir John Hawkins) to
establish the opera, of which sum His Majesty George I.
gave 1000/. Handel was appointed director, and the
performance styled The Royal Academy of Music.
Governor, the Duke of Newcastle ; deputy-governor,
Lord Bingley ; the Dukes of Portland and Queensbery,
and other noblemen and gentlemen, directors. Handel
went to Italy to engage performers, and Signora
Durastanti appeared in the summer months of this year.
The winter season commenced 10th December with
Astartus, in which first appeared Signer Francesco
Benardi, better known as Senesino, who was engaged
to supply the want of Nicolini. Another popular opera,
this season, was Arsaces ; and the public intimation was
given, that if the company in the gallery did not behave
better, it would be shut up. Next season commenced,
Wednesday, November 1st, 1721, with the opera of
Arsaces. Advertisement adds : " Pit and Boxes to be
put together, alid no person to be admitted without
tickets, which will be delivered this day at Mrs. White's
chocolate-house, in St. James's Street, at half-a-guinea
each. N.B. Four hundred tickets will be delivered - f ,
850 APPENDIX.
and after they are disposed of, no person whatever will
be admitted for money." 1722. The winter season
commenced Oct. 31, with Mutius Scaevola, and the
notice renewed, that " if any further disturbance in the
footmen's gallery takes place, it will be shut up*."
Towards the close of the year appeared, in Ottone, the
celebrated Signora Francesca Cuzzoni, who was univer-
sally admired. Durastanti, Senesino, and Mrs. Robinson,
also sang in the same opera. The season ended with
Flavius, 17th June, 1723. During this season two
ridottos were given, which, from the opposition of the
magistrates, were not further repeated. There was
announced one guinea admission to the practices of the
opera. And in January was advertised : " By order of
several persons of quality : at the long room at the
Opera House in the Haymarket, the 3 1st January, will
be Un passo Tempo, with agreeable entertainments for
ladies and gentlemen. Tickets to be had at the said
long room, at 55. each." In December the house opened
with II Vespasiano, the manager still retaining the same
powerful singers, and continued to 13th June, 1724,
when the season ended with Aquilius ; and Durastanti
took formal leave, on her return to Italy. With Tamerlano,
supported by Cuzzoni and Senesino, the following season
commenced 3 1 st October, when the number of subscribers
appears not to have exceeded 340. The opera of
* At commencement of this season it appears that the com-
mon number of 400 tickets, usually issued each night, was
reduced to 350.
APPENDIX. 851
Rodalinda, music by Handel ; and short opera of Elpidia,
produced in May 1725, music by Signer Leonardo
Vicini, were both well received, and season closed with
the last on the 1 9th of June. Elpidia was also performed
on opening the 30th November following, for the season,
which ended with Alessandro on the 7th June, 1726,
when Senesino returned to Italy. Tickets, hitherto sold
only at White's chocolate-house, were to be had at the
office of the theatre. A military guard was appointed,
to prevent irregularity and disorder happening at the
balls. On September 28th, house opened with an Italian
company of comedians, as by His Majesty's command,
with indifferent success, performing about twelve nights
during September and October. Price 4s. and 2s.
On January 7th, 1727, season commenced with Lucius
Verus. Senesino then returned, and Faustini and Cuz-
zoni still engaged. The opera of Admetus, music by
Handel, first performed 21st January, and repeated
above sixteen nights, the house being fuller each night
than was ever known before for so long a period.
House closed June 6*, with Astyanax. About the
* About this period arose the long, violent, but petty and
ridiculous altercation, between the rival heroines Cnzzoni, and
Faustini, and their respective fashionable supporters, for the
useless right of precedence. It was said, by a writer in the
Craftsman, u The adherents on both sides are very numerous ;
Faustinas are the most powerful, but Cuzzoni's the most
judicious." The same writer remarks, " The case, it seems,
stands thus : The right of possession is certainly in Cuzzoni,
352
APPENDIX.
middle of September following, again opened, the three
singers continuing, and their Majesties often there. In
November was produced King Richard I. ; and in Fe-
which she hath enjoyed, without molestation, for some years, and
is confirmed to her by divers treaties between her and the
Academy. Faustini, on the other hand, insists that Cuzzoni hath
consented and promised to yield up that right to her, by a secret
stipulation under her own hand, which she is ready to produce.
Cuzzoni seems to prevaricate a little in this affair ; for, as she
cannot well deny her own hand-writing, she would persuade the
world that it is only a sort of a promise ; or, as she terms it
amongst her friends, an artful finesse and expedient to make
Faustini easy for the present." Sir John Hawkins tells us,
" The directors, greatly troubled with this dispute, and foreseeing
the probable consequences of it, fell upon an odd expedient to
determine it. The time for a new contract with each of these
singers was at hand, and they agreed among themselves to give,
as salary to Faustini, one guinea a year more than to her rival.
Lady Pembroke and some others, the friends of CUzzoni,
hearing this, made her swear upon the Holy Gospels never td
take less than Faustini ; and the directors continuing firm in
their resolution not to give her quite so much, Cuzzoni found
herself ensnared by her oath, into the necessity of quitting the
kingdom. This she did at the end of the following season, when
her engagement probably terminated ; and Faustini, as well as
Senesino, also quitted England at the same period." Etiquette
and precedence in the opera establishment, is allowed to an
absurd extent. We write in 1822, and know if Signora A.
announces to the manager she is ill (or fancies so,) and cannot
(or will not) perform, and he obtains a substitute in Signora B. ;
after that preliminary is arranged, the express permission of
Signora A. must be got, to permit Signora B.'s appearance, by
the manager, before he dare venture to announce the alteration.
APPENDIX. 35$
bruary 1728, Siroes, both new operas, composed by
Handel. At the close of the season, Fanstini, Cuzzoni,
and Senesino, went to Italy, by which no operas were
performed during the following winter and spring of
1728-9. Some balls and assemblies, as usual. In
November 1729, the house opened with a new com-
pany ; the chief singer, Signora Strada del Po. Before
the commencement of this season, we believe, the
Academy of Music, and all its engagements, were
dissolved ; and Handel remained sole conductor of the
opera. 1 730. November 3rd, the opera of Scipio per-
formed, and continued for four nights ; their Majesties
present at each performance. Senesino then returned.
Ended Saturday, 29th May, 1731. Next season com-
menced in November, with Porus : and in February
1732, was produced, Sosarmes, music by Handel, which
brought crowded houses. On May 2nd, the oratorio of
Esther*; and, June 10th, the serenata of Acis and
Galatea. These performances were in English, by the
Italian performers, who appeared in a kind of gallery.
The public were to expect " no action on the stage ;
but the scene (in the latter piece) to represent, in a pic-
turesque manner, a rural prospect, with rocks, groves,
* Their Majesties, the Prince of Wales, and the three elder
Princesses, were present on the first night of Esther. It was
announced for the following Saturday, with notice, " That if
there are any tickets which could not be made use of on Tuesday
last, the money will either be returned for the same, on sending
them to the office in the Haymarket next Saturday, or they will
be exchanged for other tickets for that day."
354 APPENDIX.
fountains, and grottos : amongst which to be disposed A
chorus of nymphs and shepherds ; habits and every
other decoration suited to the subject." The per-
formance repeated six nights, to very full houses ; pit
and boxes put together ; and no person admitted with-
out tickets, at 10s. 6d. each. Gallery, 55. A pastoral
entertainment, on June 24th, for the benefit of Signer
Bonancini, when the Queen and three of the Princesses
were present, we believe, ended that season. The
serious opera of Cato was performed Saturday, 4th No-
vember following, by command of their Majesties,
wherein Signora Celeste Gismonda first appeared to a
full house.
In January 1733, was produced Orlando Furioso,
music by Handel. This was got up with particular
magnificence ; dresses and scenery being all new. Sea-
son ended in June. On Tuesday, 30th October, being
the King's birth-day, the house opened with Semira-
mis, in which, we believe, Durastanti appeared, on her
return to England. The new opera of Ariadne in Crete
was produced in January 1734, in which Signer Cares-
tino sung surprisingly well. On the 1 8th April, Pastor
Fido performed, composed by Handel, who, in conse-
quence of his refusing to compose for Senesino, had
this and two following seasons to contend with the nobi-
lity and gentry who patronised and wished to support
his rival*. 1735-7. During these years, operas,
* The house in Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, then
belonging to Messrs. J. and C. M. Rich, was opened 29th
APPENDIX. 355
under the direction of Handel ; and balls, of Heidegger.
Italian operas were also given at Covent Garden Theatre,
in part of the seasons, instead of plays. 1737-8. The
winter season commenced with oratorios by Handel.
About twelve given ; and prices 105. 6d. and 5s. Balls,
as usual. 1739-40. No opera at this house during
these years. Balls, assemblies, and one benefit concert.
Italian operas were performed at the Little Theatre,
Haymarket; and Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre was
occasionally opened by Handel, with Alexander's Feast,
&c. &c/
1 741 . Operas again commenced in October by Lord
Middlesex, who acted as sole director, supported by
noblemen. Dancing formed a part of each evening's
amusement. Admission 10$. 6d. and 5s. This con-
tinued during the season, without the auxiliary balls.
1742. Opened in November, with balls only during
this season. 1743. Open as before. Balls, and two
oratorios in Passion Week of 1 744. Opened in No-
vember following with oratorios by Handel, for twenty-
four nights, by subscription ; to be performed on Satur-
day nights till Lent, and then Wednesdays and Fridays.
For want of patronage, only sixteen took place. Balls
December, 1733, with the Italian opera of Ariadne in Naxus,
music by Porpora. The company principally consisted of Signor
Senesino, Signor Montagna, and Signoras Cuzzoni, Celeste,
Bertolli, and Sagatti. The performance was nearly regular twice
a week, for fifty-five nights, ending the season, on 15th June,
1734, with jEneas, by command of His Majesty.
356 APPENDIX.
occasionally. About eight or ten operas at the Little
Theatre, Haymarket, under the conduct of Geminiani.
1746. The House opened with operas in January.
Balls as usual. 1747. In this season the opera was
supported by subscriptions often nights each. 1 747-48.
Operas on Saturdays only, till February, with balls
occasionally. 1748. Opened, in November, with a
comic opera, supposed the first Italian one ever exhi-
bited: Dr. Crosa conductor. 105. 6d. and 5s. 1749.
Season continued with balls as usual. 1 750. Open for
operas from January to Easter only. 1751. Opened
in January ; but, after two performances, operas were
removed to the Little Theatre opposite. 1752. Dur-
ing the winter, only balls. 1753. In this season con-
certs and balls. Opened with operas, under Van-
neschi, as director, in November. Price 10*. 6d. and
5s. Half-price 6s. Balls occasionally. No servants
admitted in footmen's gallery but those attending their
masters and mistresses. 1 754. Opened in November,
under the same direction, with balls as usual. 1755.
Opened in November, with like entertainments.
1756-57. In this season the opera and balls were con-
ducted by Signora Mingotti, assisted by Giardini. A
strong appeal was made to the nobility, by Signora
Mingotti, for subscriptions in support of the opera.
1758. Opened 7th January with Demetrio. Conti-
nued by Vanneschi. Closed, 5th June, with the same
opera. 1759. Opened, 16th December, with De-
metrio : Tenducci first appeared. Closed with Farnace,
APPENDIX. 357
the 22nd June following. Opened, 13th November,
with Vologeso; and season ended with Erginda, on
7th June. 1760. In August, Signora Mattei, who,
under the gracious auspices of the nobility and gentry,
had undertaken the direction of the serious operas and
burlettas, announced her ability to keep promise, hav-
ing engaged " for the serious operas, Signora Mattei ;
Signer Philippo Elisi, the first singer in Italy; Signor
Gaetano Quilice, tenor ; Signora Angiola Calori, second
woman ; Signor Giovanni Sorbelloni, second man ; a
new singer for the lowest character. For the bur-
lettas : Signora Saganini, the first female comic character,
and the most famous in Italy ; Signor Gaetano Quilice,
first man ; Signora Eleardi, second woman ; Signor
Paganini, second man ; Signor N. N., third man. (Si-
gnora Angiola Calori, Signor Giovanni Sorbelloni, to
perform the serious parts in the burlettas.) Dancers :
Mademoiselle Asselin, first woman dancer; Monsieur
Gherardi, first dancer (of the men), and ballet-master ;
famous (both in serious and comic) as well for his in-
vention, as for execution in dancing. There will also
be other comic dancers and figurers, both for the serious
operas and burlettas." The house opened in No-
vember ; and on the 22nd of that month was produced,
II Mondo nella Luna, by Signor Galluppi. The season
closed with Arianne e Teseo, on the 7th June, 1761.
In September, the season commenced with two sere-
natas by Signor Cocchi, given in honour of the royal
nuptials of our late venerated Sovereign and Queen.
358 APPENDIX.
1762. Commenced with Alessandro, 13th October;
and concluded with Arianne e Teseo, the 5th June,
1763. Opened again November 1,3th, with II Tutore e
la Pupilla, by command of their Majesties, and closed
in June 1764, with the opera Zanaida. In May it was
announced, " As Signora Mattei leaves England at the
end of this season, and Mr. Crawford intends to quit
the management, all the dresses and other articles be-
longing to him and Signora Mattei will be sold."
Opened with Cleonice, 26th November, under manage-
ment of Signor Giardini, and closed with Enea e Lavinia,
on 16th June, 1765. Opened with Ezio, 24th No-
vember, and closed with Solimano, on 22nd June, 1766,
under the management of Messrs. Crawford, Vincent,
and Gordon. Opened with Eumenes, 23rd November,
and closed with Pelopida, 14th June, 1767*. During
the summer, Mr. Foote having strengthened his com-
pany with the addition of Mr. Barry, Mr. Lee, and Mrs.
Dancer, acted plays here for twenty-one nights, between
8th August and 19th September. Opened, October
27, with Tigrane, same firm as last year ; and closed
30th June, 1768. On October 30, a splendid mas-
querade, given by the King of Denmark, when the bril-
liancy of the dresses and profusion of diamonds worn
by the nobility exceeded in magnificence all contem-
* June 20, 1767. In January of that year, the oratorio of
Saul, with music by Arnold, was performed here, of which it
was said, that " nothing, since Mr. Handel's time, had appeared
in that species of composition equal to it."
3
APPENDIX. 359
porary entertainments. The stage is said to have been
lined with crimson velvet, with six rooms appropriated
for supper, where a profusion of plate appeared. On
the 12th October, the serious opera of Arianne e Teseo,
performed by desire of the King of Denmark, and occa-
sional performance until the season commenced on 5th
November. Vincent and Gordon the directors.
1769-72. During these seasons, the opera appears to
have been conducted under the same management, but
conjointly with Mr. Crawford, as Messrs. Crawford
and Co. 1772. Opened in November, with operas.
In May 1773, the whole, under management of Messrs.
Yates and Brookes, who purchased at the sum of 7,400/. ;
expecting to obtain permission to act plays, with operas
alternately. This scheme refused by the Lord Cham-
berlain. 1773. Opened, November 29, with an ex-
ordium by the manager, Yates, and Lucio Verio, dancer.
1774-7. Messrs. Yates and Co. conductors. At
Midsummer, 1778, Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Harris be-
came joint purchasers of the Opera House, at the price
of 22,000/. subject to the yearly rent of 1,270/. This
high appreciation of the property is supposed to have
been given in expectation of the possibility of acting
English pieces, under the authority of the dormant
patent in the possession of Mr. Harris. The house
opened, as usual, with an opera, 24th November, under
the direction of Mons. Le Texier. At the end of the
season 1778-9, in consequence of a very alarming
balance appearing against the property, Mr. Harris
860 APPENDIX.
became desirous of parting with his share, and assigned
the same to Mr. Sheridan, upon his personal request,
in preference to Mr. Gallini, who was also desirous to
become a purchaser, and offered to pay down a sum.
exceeding the original price. Mr. Sheridan shortly
afterwards disposed of the whole concern to Mr. Taylor.
On 27th November, advertised that Mons. Le Texier
was discharged, and Mr. Crawford (assisted by a
gentleman who was manager thirty years) appointed.
1780. Opened 24th November. Director as before.
1 781 . Opened 1 7th November. Forty renters' shares
created for fifteen years, at 200 guineas each, and also
free admissions offered at 207. a year each. 1782.
Opened 2nd November. The theatre altered by Novo-
sielski, who shaped the flat sides to form a horse-shoe ;
the boxes increased to ninety-nine, the upper gallery in
front only, but the crown-gallery all round ; with three
rows of boxes. May 17th, 1783, the theatre closed
on account of the state of its affairs. Mr. Taylor (the
manager's) creditors called together, and the whole
property put up, under the authority of the slieriff,
for sale. Some concerts afterwards, and the Pantheon
opened for the benefit of the performers, whose salaries
had not been paid. In June, Gallini and Harris took
possession, under the sheriff, for 28,000/. September
1st, Crawford appointed manager and treasurer, under
trustees. December 2nd, Gallini advertised that he
was sole proprietor and director. December 3rd, ad-
vertised that Gallini was only mortgagee for 4,170/.
APPENDIX. 361
Opened again, 2nd December. In February 1 781, trus-
tees advertised that Crawford was appointed manager
by the Court of King's Bench. No opera after Easter,
except a few benefits. 1785. September 17th, re-
ceiver appointed by Court of Chancery. November
27th, Gallini's demand settled by Court of Chancery,
and paid off by trustees. December 18th, opened for
the season. August 16th, advertisement from Lord
Chamberlain's office, that the opera having been im-
properly conducted, he refuses to put it into other hands,
and intends to have it under his direction. Operas at
the Haymarket Theatre ; the profits to discharge the
debts of the opera- concerns. August 17th, all disputes
settled; Gallini again manager. September 23rd, no
licence to be granted by the Chamberlain, until he was
satisfied the performers, &c. would be paid. 17815.
Opened 23rd January ; Gallini manager. The follow-
ing season opened 23rd December. 1787. Opened
8th December, under the same manager, for season of
1787-8. Opened 9th January; Gallini manager, and
Mr. Taylor proprietor. The theatre burnt 17th June,
between ten and eleven in the evening. The standing
rent was 1,270/. An advertisement from Gallini
offered 300/. reward to discover supposed person who
set fire to the Opera House. Another stated accident
not from fireworks, as reported. The damages com-
puted at 70,000/. Vanbrugh's relatives received 8007.
a year. His late Majesty interfered to prevent the
Opera House from being rebuilt on another spot of
VOL. II. 11
362 APPENDIX.
ground, as intended. On June 27th, operas com-
menced for a few nights at Covent Garden, at opera
prices.
Operas commenced at the Little Theatre, Hay-
market, 9th January, 1790. Particular newspapers at
this period contained most plausible statements and
minute description of an intended Opera House, as to
be erected by R. B. O'Reilly, who had obtained an
interest, it was considered, by purchase of the claim of
the family of Vanbrugh, by Leicester Fields, about the
old site of the Prince of Wales's palace, afterwards the
repository of Sir Ashton Lever's museum. April 9th,
O'Reilly advertised he had obtained a patent for a new
opera, in Leicester Square, and no other patent in
existence. Operas closed at the Haymarket, 12th
June ; recommenced at Covent Garden, loth June, and
continued till 17th July. July 10th, O'Reilly obtained
the Lord Chamberlain's licence ; and on 4th October,
he advertised to open the Pantheon as an Opera House,
early after Christinas. In the mean time, by the exer-
tion of Mr. Taylor, on 3rd April, 1790, foundation-stone
of the new theatre laid by the Earl of Buckingham-
shire*. March 16th, 1791, rehearsal for the sub-
* On one side the stone was inscribed : " The King's The-
atre, iii the Haymarket, tirst built in the year A.D. 1703." On
the other side: " But unfortunately destroyed by fire, A. D.
1789." On another side : " PrevalebitJustitia." And upon the
lop : " This is the first stone of the new Opera House ; laid on
the 3rd of April, A.D. 1790 ; by the Night Honourable John Ho-
APPENDIX. 363
scribers announced ; previous to this, several pro and
con statements, from Taylor and O'Reilly, published
in the daily papers. The Pantheon opened in Fe-
bruary with operas, and was called the King's Theatre.
Taylor was announced as proprietor of Opera House,
and Novosielski the architect. A licence could not be
obtained to open the new house ; and on application to
the Lord Chamberlain, whether it could not be opened
on Harris's dormant patent, the Lord Chamberlain
briefly remarked, it was not in his province to answer
that question. After several rehearsals, Taylor adver-
tised, that all applications for a licence having been
refused by the Lord Chamberlain, he having granted
another, the opera could not open: the theatre cost
60,000/. and that only 8000/. was insured; and the
house had been established eighty-seven years, on
ground leased by the Crown. March 26th, the Opera
House opened with music and dancing, and continued
such diversions on the regular opera nights, till July
ID. The Drury Lane company opened this theatre
September 22nd, and closed 16th June, 1792. Operas
bart, Earl of Buckinghamshire. Auclor prctiosafacit" A singular
pamphlet, published in 1818, as a Review of this Theatre, from
the Period described by the Enterpriser, has the following motto,
allusive to the period : " When I stood upon the m:Ung ruins,
and laid the foundation-stone, I had nothing in my pockets but
both my hands, and I would have given the world for one
guinea." It was advertised in July, as reduced "to a certainty its
being completely fit for public representation at Christmasnexl."
864 APPENDIX.
at the Pantheon until it was burnt down, 1 4th January,
1792; and company removed to the Little Theatre,
Haymarket.
1793. September 15th, Drury Lane company com-
menced a second season here until 25th January ; when,
on the 26th, operas commenced, under the management
of Mr. Kelly and Signor Storace. Performed two
nights a week, on which nights the Drury Lane company
opened the Little Theatre. 1794. Commenced 4th
January ; Kelly and Storace managers. Opened again
Cth December. In Lent following, oratorios for one
night, and then repeated in Concert Room, which was
supposed the largest in England. Commenced 6th
December, 1795; Kelly manager; and in this season
part of the walls of the theatre blown down. Concerts
in the Great Room, twelve for five guineas. Opened
26th November, 1796 ; Kelly, manager. The boxes at
the back of the pit altered ; previously called the
Resurrection Boxes. Opened December 8th, 1798;
and in 1799, Mr. Taylor (by his counsel, Mr. Leach)
stated before the Privy Council, when discussing the
application for a third theatre, that he, Taylor, became
(on obtaining the licence in 1792) responsible for
O'Reilly's debts of 30,000/. incurred at the Pantheon.
Had agreed with the Drury Lane and Co vent Garden
proprietors for 11,500/. they should not act Italian
operas ; and to purchase Killigrew's dormant patent, for
5,000f. N.B. This was never fulfilled, as Drury Lane
company have Killigrew's patent, which they purchased
APPENDIX.
365
when they rebuik the present theatre. ISO 0. The
opera was announced to open on the 4th January, 1 800,
but put off, a difficulty arising about the licence, and
opened on the llth. Opened 4th January, 1801 ;
and again, 29th December. Mr. Kelly superintended
the musical department. Opened 4th December, 1 802 ;
acting manager, Kelly; whole under the direction of
Jewell. May 5th, Hillisberg took leave ; she died at
Calais, on her way to her mother, in August. January
27th, 1803. William Taylor, sole owner, sold 'to Francis
Goold, Esq. a third for 13,3357. ; Goold to be sole
conductor and manager. Mrs. Billington engaged this
season, and her brother Weichsell, leader of the band.
Kelly returned from Italy, with choruses. Jewell
director. 1804. Season commenced, 14th January.
The acting manager, Mr. Kelly, under direction of Mr.
Jewell. By an indenture, dated 7th September, Taylor
conveyed to Goold, in consideration of 4,165/. seven
sixteenths of the whole property ; and by another in-
denture, dated the following day, and having a mortgage
proviso for redemption, Taylor assigned to Goold nine
sixteenths, for 5,700/. which included the above 4,165/ r
1805. Opened 24th November; d'Egville, ballet-
master. In June, a riot, in consequence of part of the
ballet being omitted, from the lateness of the hour, being
Saturday evening. The riot continued till half-past two
on Sunday morning, and the damage alleged to amount
to 5,000/. The military were called in. From that
period, the curtain dropped, on a Saturday night, at
twelve o'clock, by order of the Bishop of London..
VOL. II. s
366
APPENDIX.
Opened December 7th. Billington, Storace, Braham,
&c. engaged. Leader of the band, Weichsell ; stage-
manager, Kelly; treasurer, Jewell. 1806. Opened 13th
December. Jewell, treasurer ; Kelly, stage-manager,
who officially stated, that Madame Catalani and her
husband were not objects of suspicion to Government.
1807. January 17th, Mr. Francis Goold, the principal
proprietor and mortgagee, died. The subscription this
season stated to be 23,000/. and the receipt at the doors,
17,000/. On the death of Mr. Goold, management
resumed by Mr. Taylor. 1808. Opened 2nd January ;
J. H. d'Egville, stage-manager. The theatre newly
decorated. March 8th, Mr. Waters advertised, he
would not be responsible for any debts contracted by
Taylor, as Mr. Goold's executor. 1809-12. These
seasons were well conducted, principally under the
influence or guidance of Mr. Waters. 1812. January
20th, the sheriffs sold part of Taylor's property to raise
1,400/. 1813. December llth, the Lord Chancellor
ordered the whole of Goold's property to be sold, and
that Taylor should not interfere in the management.
1814. December 29th, Mr. Waters, as proprietor,
advertised the opera would not open until a manager
was appointed by the Lord Chancellor. March 12, Mr.
Waters advertised he was legally appointed sole manager ;
and the house would open as soon as possible. Opened
April 16th. March 8th, Goold's share in the Opera
House put up for sale, and Mr. Waters the highest
bidder for the seven-sixteenths, at 35,000/. he still
having a mortgage lien on it of 22,600/. 1815. January
APPENDIX. 367
10th, opened under the efficient management of Mr.
Waters; and the same, following season. 1816.
September 1 7th. In consequence of a further decree of
the Lord Chancellor, the former sale was rescinded, and
the whole property purchased this day by Mr. Waters,
for 70,150/. who continued the management to the end
of the season 1820 T 21. 1821. Mr. John Ebers, of
New Bond Street, bookseller, commenced the winter-
season, tenant of the Opera House ; and the per-
formances were conducted under his entire management
till the year 1823, when he transferred his lease to
Signer Benelli, for the season. In 1824-5, Mr. Ebers
became again the lessee of the theatre, under Mr.
Chambers, who has a large mortgage on the concern.
There remains only to add, that the interior of the
theatre, appropriated for the accommodation of the
audience, consists of four principal tiers of boxes, a
very large area or pit, and gallery. In each of the tiers
of boxes are forty-three boxes, making all together one
hundred and seventy-two boxes. Of that number,
there are in the pit-tier, eighteen ; on the ground-tier,
seventeen ; on the one-pair, fourteen ; and on the two-
pair, nineteen boxes ; making in the whole, sixty-eight
boxes, all private and distinct property till the year
1825.
FIXIS.
LONDON :
PRINTED BY T. BRETTELL, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKKT.
M-
n
&u
a
m
'
wirm
. iM ;i^*U:;; . ' feK fe^gl
*i*?^2^IU^:^ -* l v rS^ ' &**
m-^v
SSS
J.M
:"v/v V-^v-v,:;
&> *& : %tm